[Noise pollution in Zanjan city in 2007]

ABSTRACT

Noise pollution is an important environmental problem that may cause hazardous effects, such as hearng loss, sleep disorders, hypertension and digestive problems in communities. To prevent these effects, achieving recommended standards of noise pollution measuring in cities is mandatory. This study was aimed to evaluate noise pollution in zanjan city in 2007. For measuring environmental noise levels, 64 samples were selected in 2 weeks. They were selected from 16 residential and commercial areas, 4 times daily [morning, noon, evening and night]. Noise indices were measured in A weight channel. Measurements at considered stations were gathered using a sound meter apparatus model cel-268. The maximum equivalent sound level, in A weight channel was detected at night from Sadre Jahan crossroad and at day from Sadi crossroad, being 72db and 77.7db respectively. Significant difference was seen between equivalent sound levels of night and noon [P=0.048] and night and evening [P=0.03]. It was concluded that Zanjan city noise pollution at both residential and commercial areas is higher than that of international standards in most instances. The results were also similar to the findings of other studies in Iran