[An intervention policy for reducing noise pollution in urban areas]. / Politiche di intervento per il risanamento delle aree urbane rumorose.

The methodological methods for a reduction of the noise pollution in the urban areas, mainly, can be advised in 8 operative points: 1) reduction of the source's noise; 2) control of the traffic; 3) planning of the urban and regional development; 4) building's shelter against the noise; 5) compensation's and incentivation's interventions for the exposed people; 6) controls activity and restaining of the noise's sources; 7) scientific research; 8) health education. For executive motivations we must, necessarily, divide the intervention turned to a reduction of the noise's emissions caused by fixed source compared to the noise's emissions determined by motor or railway traffic (mobile sources). This operative criteria have been utilized recently (1988) from Italian Department of Ecology for a bill. The controls of fixed source are made by Public Health Services of U.S.L. (Local Sanitary Unit) assisted, in case, by multiarea country's districts. The regulations of traffic can be took in consideration, in short time, only in more simple problems, as the setting up of pedestrian island or the suspensions of the heavy traffic, etc. The traffic's regulation must care same general data: the halved of traffic's flow in same rilevation's point, involve a reduction of only 3 dBA of the sound pressure level previously measured; if the percentage of heavy traffic is higher than 10% of the traffic's flow, the first intervention must be the no thorough fare to heavy lorries. In general, then, the best way for the resolution of vehicular noise pollution is the noisy emission's control of the single vehicle, because only the regulation of traffic's flow doesn't suffice to realise a enough reduction of noise pollution. For the resolution of more complex problems is necessary a preliminary stage to study and to plan those before to can carry out a typology of intervention. This necessity is, of course, more expensive in time and money; in fact, the solution of the problem can be the building of a efficient subway network completed by car parks in the terminal stations. In alternation at this draft, we can pointed out, also, same compromise resolutions like the appoint areas to limited traffic in the town or the break of continuity of the bus-line in the town. The compensation or the incentivation to make defence works against noise is a very expensive way and, moreover, they don't solve the problem for all exposed people in a future.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Annoyance, disturbance and damage caused by noise and vibrations]. / Annoyance, disturbo e danno da rumore e da vibrazioni.

The pathogenic effects derived by the emission of noises and vibrations, essentially, are conditioned from three etiological factors. The first of those is the energetic level of the sound emission, whereas the second is the exposure time and the last is the spectral composition. We, making reference to sound source, can associate to the first etiological factors the influence of impulsive components present in the noise; whereas to the second the importance of the functional recovery time of auditory acuity and, at last, to the third etiological factors the annoyance caused by the superimposition of pure tone or of tight band noise, contained in 1/3 of octave. The specific effects, caused by the noise exposure, affect the auditory system (acoustic trauma, auditory weariness, noise deafness) and the vestibular system (vertigo, sickness, trouble of balance). Those effects are fortly dependent to the entity of the sound energy accepted in a calculated time interval (LEP), and after the end of noise expositions they aren't developed. The specific effects became permanent when the degeneration of the Corti's cells occurred. The noise deafness, in first time, impair the frequencies included between 3000 and 6000 Hz, particularly it concerns the thigh band of 4000 Hz. Those lesions happen after a prolonged exposition to LEP greater than 80-85 dBA, and its evolutions, usually, follow a succession of clinical stages that can be monitored through audiometric controls to allow the necessary preventive measures. The nonspecific effects, derived to the noise exposition can be divided in: 1) neuroendocrinologic and psychological effects; 2) psychosomatic effects; 3) psychosocial effects. The psychological effects (anxiety, depression, conflict condiction) are strictly related with neuroendocrinological responses to the sound impact, this, for the smaller entity of stimulation, is identical to locality reaction, on the contrary for more violent stimulations those determine and adaptative reaction (Selye syndrome) that consist in a excitement of the thalamus and pituitary gland, this determines a multiple endocrine hyperactivity followed from a inhibition period or, possibly, an adaptation period. The noise exposure determines, besides, same E.E.G. alterations and a reduction of walls' tone of the brain's arteries. The psychosomatic effects of the noise appear with emission greater than or equal to 70 dBA and these can be distinguished in: cardiovascular effects, gastrointestinal effects, respiratory effects, visual and genitals effects. The noise in these cases, mainly, acts as a risk's factors. The noise is, again, the cause of the arising of psychosocial effects. These can be classified as: interference on the transmission and understanding of the words, perfect healthy respect the efficiency and the learning capacity of the exposed subject, interference on the duration and quality of the sleep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Statistical studies of street traffic noise in the city of Pescara, based on findings on 24-hour periods]. / Indagine statistica sul rumore da traffico stradale a Pescara basata su rilevamenti effettuati durante tutto l'arco delle 24 ore.

The level of acoustic pollution from road traffic in Pescara has been measured in 10 residential areas with commercial activity. Measurements have been carried out during 24 hours, by means of a magnetic recorder Nagra IV-SJ, joined with a statistic level analyzer Brüel & Kjaer 2312 in connection with an alpha digital printer. Cumulative statistic levels, standard deviation, equivalent level, noise pollution level and traffic noise index, have been calculated. Composite indexes of acoustic pollution expressed as equivalent level 24 hours (Leq 24), level day-night (Ldn) and composite noise equivalent level (CNEL) have been calculated elaborating the data obtained. All collected data resulted to exceed the limits of stated rules.

[New measurements of noise from road traffic in Rome carried out during 24 hours (author's transl)]. / Nuova indagine statistica sulla rumorosità da traffico stradale a Roma basata su rilevamenti effettuati durante tutto l'arco delle 24 ore.

A new series of noise measurements in 10 points of the central zone in Rome, corresponding to residential areas with commercial activity, to parks, to hospitals, and to a subway, have been carried out. Investigation has been protracted during 24 hours and each measure has lasted 20 minutes. For the survey a mobile acoustic unity of the Environmental Hygiene Laboratory, Department of Sanitary Engineering, of Istituto Superiore di Sanità has been employed. The unity is fitted with instruments for statistical analysis of noise in connection with a minicomputer. The used program has allowed to calculate L1, L10, L50, L90, standard deviation, Leq, LNP, TNI. On the basis of such measurements Leq 24, Ldn, CNEL, have been calculated. Collected data have been compared with limits of stated rules and with noise levels measured in other seven Italian towns.

[Noise caused by street traffic: evaluation, predetermination and limits]. / Rumore da traffico stradale: valutazione, predeterminazione e limiti.

In evaluation of annoyance level due to road traffic, many criterions of noise exposure and degrees of basic adverse effect have been proposed through composite numerical values. In the present study procedures and units proposed by various AA. are recognizded and mathematical prediction models which correlate the influence of traffic density, composition, speed and geometry of road on emitted noise level are evaluated. At last limits of noise exposure levels set up in many countries or promulgated by Authorities with respect to the health and well being of man and in function of zoning urban areas, are referred.