FULL PROJECT – PERCEIVED EFFECT OF NOISE POLLUTION ON THE INHABITANTS OF IKEJA LOCAL AREA OF LAGOS STATE
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ABSTRACT
The study examined perceived effect of noise pollution on the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State. The objectives of the study were to: ascertain if perceived effect of noise pollution would influence the health of the inhabitant of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State, ascertain if perceived effect of noise pollution would influence the behaviour of the inhabitant of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State, examine the effect of noise pollution on cognitive development on the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State., find out the effect of noise pollution on the blood pressure of the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State and find out the effect of noise pollution on hypertension related problems of people living in Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State. The research design was the descriptive survey design. A simple random sampling method was employed to get 140 respondents. One hundred and twenty questionnaire was retrieved from the respondents which was used for computing the data analysis. Simple percentage was used to analyze the data while Chi Square Statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that The study revealed that people that are exposed to high noise levels have a higher incidence of circulatory problems, cardiac diseases, hypertension, neuro-sensory and motor impairment. High noise level was discovered to cause stress and high blood pressure which is the leading cause of health problems. The study recommended that health educators should organize sensitization programmes to educate the populace on the health effects of noise pollution. The study concludes that noise pollution does not have significant effect on the health of the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Noise consists of sound, which is transported by air. Noise is not inherently harmful to the human or environment. It is when noise becomes unusually loud and uncontrolled that it diminishes the quality of air and adversely affects the environment, public health and welfare (Lucknow, 2005). Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change, instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organism. There are two major causes of pollution, natural and manmade. Natural Pollution occurs naturally and does not cause excessive harm to our lives due to its regenerated ability. While the manmade pollution is caused by human activities, and are hard to get rid of, the backbones of manmade pollution are the human population and technology (Bluhm, Berglind, Nordling, & Rosenlund, 2007).
Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise. Noise pollution encompasses roadway noise, aircraft noise, industrial noise as well as high-intensity sonar, heat or light. Noise pollution is one of the environmental hazards affecting humans as well as climate. The main sources of noise pollution in Nigeria are electricity generating plants, vehicular traffic noise engine and pressure horns, construction/industrial noise, machinery noise, noise from religious worship, institutions and household noise.
The general meaning of ‘noise’ is an over loud or disturbing sound, which breaks the calmness of the atmosphere. When the level increases to an irritable level, it can be considered as “noise pollution” in the atmosphere (Evans & Lepore, 1993). It may be composed of a single or a mixture of the sound waves that have different sound levels but are produced by single or multiple sources (Ouis, 2001). The undesirable level of sound may adversely affect the health and well-being of the individuals or the community. Noise can disturb people’s rest, sleep, work and communication and it can damage hearing and evoke psychological, physiological and possible pathological reactions. Noise adversely affects the bodily function including cardio vascular system. It alters the rhythm of heart beat which makes the blood thicker and thicker and dilates blood vessels which not only makes the focusing of the eyes difficult but also causes headaches and irritability. Principal noise health hazards are both health and behavioral in nature (Stansford & Matheson, 2003).
Noise pollution can emanate from traffic, construction sites, factories, neighbours. Excessive noise from neighbours can be frustrating and disturbing resulting into stress and annoyance. Nigerian cities are environmentally noise polluted and the road traffic, industrial machineries and generators are the major sources of it (Oyedepo, 2012). Noise from transport is an increasingly prominent feature of the urban environment (Clark & Stansfeld, 2007). Noisy neighbours can make someone’s life a miserable or prevent from enjoying the comfort of his home. On many occasion, the person making the noise may be unaware that he is making noise because a joyous music to one may be a source of disgusting sound to another. For instance, closely knitted residential apartment with industry will experience noise pollution. Also, dwellers may be exposed to noise from boilers, generators, air conditioner and amplified music. Football or noisy activities from neighbours such as social parties can equally amount to noise pollution. Other forms of noise can come from barking dogs, or banging of doors.
Statement of Problem
Constant exposure to excessive noise may have serious detrimental effect on human’s health and behaviour. For instance, sound sleep is one of the major prerequisites for good physiological and mental functioning in healthy individuals. Environmental noise can cause tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbance and other harmful effects on health. Exposure to noise disturbs sleep proportional to the amount of noise experienced in terms of an increased rate of changes in sleep stages and in number of awakenings. Sleep disturbances such as difficulty to fall asleep, alterations of sleep pattern or depth and awakenings may necessitate the need for using sleeping pills or ear plugs.
High level noise will result into hearing loss. Evidences abound that constant noise exposure can damage sensitive structures in the ear. Noise-induced hearing loss, the second to age induced hearing loss results from damage of the hair cells of the cochlea in the inner ear arising from continuous exposure to recreational and occupational noise. Blasts and other intense or explosive sounds can rupture the eardrum or cause immediate damage to the structures of the middle and inner ear, while, hearing loss due to prolonged noise exposure is generally associated with destruction of the hair cells of the inner ear. The observed increase in noise level in metropolitan cities above specified standard limits is responsible for rising incidence of deafness among the inhabitants. Though, exposure to loud, distracting and possibly hazardous noise may be a common experience for everyone but to allow such exposure to have detrimental effect on one’s hearing is a personal choice.
Workers that are exposed to high noise levels have a higher incidence of circulatory problems, cardiac diseases, hypertension, neuro sensory and motor impairment. High noise level was discovered to cause stress and high blood pressure which is the leading cause of health problems. The body’s fight or flight response leading to autonomic nervous and endocrine effects seen with chronic daily level of noise can lead to elevated blood pressure and heart rate. Studies have revealed a significant relationship between daily traffic noise and night time aircraft noise and an increase in blood pressure and association between road traffic noise and self-reported doctor diagnosed hypertension.
The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of noise pollution on the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State.
- To ascertain if perceived effect of noise pollution would influence the health of the inhabitant of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State.
- To ascertain if perceived effect of noise pollution would influence the behaviour of the inhabitant of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State.
- To examine the effect of noise pollution on cognitive development on the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State.
- To find out the effect of noise pollution on the blood pressure of the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State.
- To find out the effect of noise pollution on hypertension related problems of people living in Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State.
Research Questions
The following questions will be answered:
- Will noise pollution affect the health of the inhabitant of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State?
- Will noise pollution affect the behaviour of the inhabitant of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State?
- Will noise pollution affect the cognitive development of the inhabitant of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State?
- Will noise pollution affect blood pressure of the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State?
- Will noise pollution cause hypertension related problems to people living in Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State?
Research Hypotheses
The following research hypotheses formulated will be tested:
- Noise pollution will not have significant effect on the health of the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State.
- Noise pollution will not have significant effect on the behaviour of the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State.
- Noise pollution will not have significant effect on the blood pressure of the inhabitants of the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Delimitation of the study
The study will be delimited to the following: The inhabitants of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State. Three research assistants, structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics of Chi Square (X2). Testing of hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level.
Significance of the Study
This study may enable government to know the adverse of noise pollution on the inhabitants of Ikeja Local Area of Lagos State and its effect in the society so as to provide professional help through which the problems could be resolved or curbed.
It will also be of great importance to the students by broadening their knowledge about the adverse effect of noise pollution within the society and the precautionary measure that should be adopted.
The study may influence government decision on policies against noise pollution generated through several means within and outside Lagos.
It may serve as baseline data for those who may which to carry out research on noise pollution.
Operational Definition of Terms
Noise Pollution: Noise pollution is the disturbing or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of human beings life.
Noise: Noise is an error or undesired random disturbance of a useful information signal in a communication channel.
Health: Health can be defined as level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living organism.
Blood Pressure (BP): Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels. When used without further specification, “blood pressure” usually refers to the arterial pressure in the systemic circulation.
Cognitive Development: This has to do with human development in terms of information processing, conceptual resources, perceptual skill, language learning, and other aspects of brain.
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