ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE MEASUREMENTS WITHIN ABUJA METROPOLIS
FINAL REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE ABUJA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOARD (A.E.P.B.)
SUBMITTED BY:MAYOKUN FRANCIS OKELOLA
RESEARCH TEAM MEMBERS/ADDRESS:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The research team members wish to express their appreciation to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (A.E.P.B.) for making funds available to carry out this research project.
TABLE OF CONTENT
1.0 Executive Summary
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Background to Study
2.2 Noise as Environmental Pollution
2.2.1 Sources of Noise
2.2.2 Effects of Noise Pollution
2.3 Concept of Decibels
2.3.1 Sound Pressure Level
2.3.2 Zero Decibels
2.4 Weighting Networks
2.5 Location of Study Area
2.5.1 Introduction
2.5.2 Areas Occupied for Investigation
2.6 Objectives of Research Work
2.7 Scope and Limitation of Study
3.0 Research Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Work Plan
3.3 Field Equipment
3.3.1 Sound Level Meter
3.3.2 Meter Operation
3.4 Data Collection Procedures and Data Analysis
3.4.1 Description of Data Collection Sequences/Analysis
3.4.1.1 Station s
3.4.2 Bar Chart
4.0 Discussion
5.0 Conclusion
6.0 Recommendation
7.0 Appendix
2.5.1 Areas Occupied for Investigation
1. Jabi Motor Park
2. Kado Village Market
3. Utako Market
4. Wuse Market (electric milling machine section)
5. Wuse Market (foodstuff section)
6. Abuja Environmental Protection Board Office
7. Wuse Park
8. Banex Plaza
9. Area 1 Shopping Complex
10. Area 11, NTA Junction
11. FCDA Junction
12. Zone 3 Neighbourhood Shopping Centre
2.6 Objectives of Research Work
The objectives of this project work include the following, viz;
i. Determination of maximum ambient noise levels at strategic locations within Abuja metropolis.
ii. Proposing appropriate mitigating factors where it is discovered that the noise level exceeds the internationally-recognised threshold of 70dB.
Fig.13: Bar Chart representation of the noise level values at the different stations surveyed Abuja.
6.0 Recommendation
As a society, our history is filled with failures to recognize the agents that cause disease; once the causes have been recognized, we have responded reluctantly, slowly, and often inadequately. The case with tobacco is an instructive one. It took many years of lobbying by dedicated individuals before legislators and the general public recognized the links between the hazards of tobacco smoke and disease; as a result laws were finally enacted and behaviors changed accordingly. Despite the evidence about the many medical, social, and economic effects of noise, as a society, we continue to suffer from the same inertia, the same reluctance to change, and the same denial of the obvious that the anti-tobacco lobby faced a couple of decades ago. This inertia and denial are similar to those that delayed appropriate action on lead, mercury, and asbestos. Now we seem unable to make the connection between noise and disease, despite the evidence, and despite the fact, which we all recognize, that our cities are becoming increasingly more polluted with noise. Noise makers and the businesses that support them are as reluctant as smokers to give up their bad habits.
Arising from this research work are the following recommendations:
1. The government has a responsibility to overhaul the power supply system so as to reduce the number of noisy standby electricity generators.
2. There should be a constant environmental awareness by the government to educate the public on the aftermath effects of environmental noise pollution on human health.
3. Environmental education should be added to the school curricular in order to have basic orientation about noise pollution.
4. In Abuja metropolis, where population is fast increasing, noise pollution constitute a serious health problem. In order to protect the health of the teeming populace, certain measures should be put in place as part of the public health awareness scheme; these could be in form of warning signs against noise pollution, billboards, awareness in encouraging people to plant sound proof trees, etc.
5. Environmental safety monitoring team: The federal government should also establish a monitoring team on environmental noise pollution.
6. Vehicles in bad shape should be declared off-limit on city streets.
7. Construction of underground road networks (tunneling): The federal government should build subways in order that residential areas, schools, hospitals could be shielded from noise generated by vehicles.
8. The government and non-governmental organization should encourage the citizens in using ear muffle at their working place where noise is of great impact i.e. the milling section of the Wuse Market.
9. Enlightenment on the use of silencer for generators or other machines that has exhaust.
10. Discussion of environmental noise pollution issue on the broadcasting stations.
11. Planting of sound proof trees.
12. Conservation centre should be put into consideration like parks, playing-ground within the metropolis.
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