A Review on Noise Pollution Monitoring, Mapping, Modelling, and Health Impacts

Abstract

Most people are not aware that noise from road traffic is the principal cause of annoyance to exposed people. In relation to this, the review aims at providing an overview of research carried out on noise pollution monitoring, mapping, modelling, and health impacts in recent years in different countries. The electronic databases were searched to select the studies related to noise monitoring, mapping, modelling, and health impacts on humans. A total of 91 most relevant studies were reviewed in this article. A comparison of different instruments available for noise monitoring was done. Studies related to monitoring and mapping reveal that most of the locations have higher noise levels in the environment, breaching the noise limits. Only a few articles enumerated health impacts and zone-specific monitoring. Many researchers have conducted a questionnaire-based study related to health to identify the impact of noise. Noise models for many developing countries are not available, so their development and modification are still in progress. Proper zone-specific studies and noise maps will help the town planner with better land use planning. Continuous monitoring stations for noise in crowded cities shall be implemented to mitigate noise pollution. Based on the review, it is concluded that long-term research on noise pollution is very much needed worldwide.

Keywords: noise levels, monitoring, mapping, sound level meter, noise models