International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VII, Issue VI, June 2022 | ISSN 2454–6194
Noise Measurements in Industrial Areas in North A’ Sharqiyah Region -Oman.
Mohammed Al Bahri*, Thuraya Al-Harthy, Khalid Al Hashmi and Ibrahim Al Rishidi
Department of Basic Sciences, A’Sharqiyah University, Post Box 42, PC 400, Ibra, Oman.
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Noise pollution has become a serious problem nowadays due to industrial development and Urbanization. Industrial noise in particular is exceeding being an environmental issue to be a health issue for workers. In this study, we investigated the noise levels in industrial areas in Oman, specifically the largest industrial area in North A’ Sharqiyah region. This study has been conducted in Ibra industrial area, in which the area covered for the study is around 3 km2 which includes more than 200 workshops. Twenty-one different zones have been selected within this area to measure the noise levels. The noise levels were measured using the sound level meter (S/N:2019023967) with a measuring range of (30 to 130 dB) and an accuracy of 1.5 dB. The measurements have been conducted in two time intervals and on different days during the week. The primary sources of noise have been identified to be from workshops. The results have been compared to the Omani standards issued by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and it was found that the industrial area had higher levels of noise and it is beyond the Oman standard norms. The average exposure time of high noise has been calculated during working hours to be 3 hours per day.
Keywords: Sound Noise Level, Industrial Area, Sound Level Meter, Decibel (dB)
I. INTRODUCTION
Noise pollution is one of the environmental pollutions which is increasing rapidly nowadays. Industrial noise in particular is exceeding being an environmental issue to be a health issue for workers. For example, depression, hypertension, high-stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects[1–7]. There are different sources of sound noise, such as road traffics[8–11], industrial areas[12–17], and machines [18–21]. The normal accepted level of sound noise is around 60 dB (decibel), according to the World Health Organization (WHO)[22]. Several studies have investigated the noise pollution in urban areas, including in residentialareas, schools, universities [23–29] and prayer places like mosques [30]. Furthermore, A.R. Seroji’s sound noise in Mina during Hajj Season in 2008 and these measurements were performed at four camps distributed at different sites in the Mina area (Beginning of Mina – Middle of Mina – Streets area – Al-Jamarat area). Results showed that the measured equivalent noise levels per 8 hours at these four camps were ranging between 64 – 78 dB day and night, which is exceeding the recommended noise levels by WHO [31]. Other studies have covered hotels and other rest places by noise studies[32–35] and other studies have examined the noise at hospitals and found that the main