Night-Time Decibel Hell: Mapping Noise Exposure Zones and Individual Annoyance Ratings in an Urban Environment in Ghana
Although accumulating evidence over the past thirty years indicates that noise is an environmental stressor in residential settings, much of the data emanated from studies in high-intensity, noise impact zones around airports or major roads. Little is known about religious noise, especially at night...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Scientifica |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/892105 |
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| author | Rachel N. Zakpala Frederick Ato Armah Brigid M. Sackey Opoku Pabi |
| author_facet | Rachel N. Zakpala Frederick Ato Armah Brigid M. Sackey Opoku Pabi |
| author_sort | Rachel N. Zakpala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although accumulating evidence over the past thirty years indicates that noise is an environmental stressor in residential settings, much of the data emanated from studies in high-intensity, noise impact zones around airports or major roads. Little is known about religious noise, especially at night, which is increasingly a growing concern for both the general public and policy-makers in sub-Saharan Africa. Using geographical information systems (GIS), this study measured and mapped exposure to religious noise in a rapidly urbanising municipality in Ghana. Quantitative noise risk assessment was used to evaluate the risk of religious noise-induced hearing loss to residents in the exposed neighbourhoods. The results show that all neighbourhoods where churches were situated had at least one location with significant risk of noise-induced hearing loss. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between neighbourhoods where religious noise exposure was the highest and where noise annoyance was the highest. The magnitude of the noise values for night-time exposure is remarkable particularly given that excessive night-time noise exposure has the greatest detrimental effect on public health. There is the need to focus on vulnerable groups, sensitive hours of the night, and possible confounding with air pollution in order to wholly address this potential hazard. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-359bdfe7bdf248c29be0f3f178392e20 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-908X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientifica |
| spelling | doaj-art-359bdfe7bdf248c29be0f3f178392e202025-08-20T03:55:16ZengWileyScientifica2090-908X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/892105892105Night-Time Decibel Hell: Mapping Noise Exposure Zones and Individual Annoyance Ratings in an Urban Environment in GhanaRachel N. Zakpala0Frederick Ato Armah1Brigid M. Sackey2Opoku Pabi3Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Environmental Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaCentre for Social Policy Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, GhanaInstitute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, GhanaAlthough accumulating evidence over the past thirty years indicates that noise is an environmental stressor in residential settings, much of the data emanated from studies in high-intensity, noise impact zones around airports or major roads. Little is known about religious noise, especially at night, which is increasingly a growing concern for both the general public and policy-makers in sub-Saharan Africa. Using geographical information systems (GIS), this study measured and mapped exposure to religious noise in a rapidly urbanising municipality in Ghana. Quantitative noise risk assessment was used to evaluate the risk of religious noise-induced hearing loss to residents in the exposed neighbourhoods. The results show that all neighbourhoods where churches were situated had at least one location with significant risk of noise-induced hearing loss. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between neighbourhoods where religious noise exposure was the highest and where noise annoyance was the highest. The magnitude of the noise values for night-time exposure is remarkable particularly given that excessive night-time noise exposure has the greatest detrimental effect on public health. There is the need to focus on vulnerable groups, sensitive hours of the night, and possible confounding with air pollution in order to wholly address this potential hazard.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/892105 |
| spellingShingle | Rachel N. Zakpala Frederick Ato Armah Brigid M. Sackey Opoku Pabi Night-Time Decibel Hell: Mapping Noise Exposure Zones and Individual Annoyance Ratings in an Urban Environment in Ghana Scientifica |
| title | Night-Time Decibel Hell: Mapping Noise Exposure Zones and Individual Annoyance Ratings in an Urban Environment in Ghana |
| title_full | Night-Time Decibel Hell: Mapping Noise Exposure Zones and Individual Annoyance Ratings in an Urban Environment in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Night-Time Decibel Hell: Mapping Noise Exposure Zones and Individual Annoyance Ratings in an Urban Environment in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Night-Time Decibel Hell: Mapping Noise Exposure Zones and Individual Annoyance Ratings in an Urban Environment in Ghana |
| title_short | Night-Time Decibel Hell: Mapping Noise Exposure Zones and Individual Annoyance Ratings in an Urban Environment in Ghana |
| title_sort | night time decibel hell mapping noise exposure zones and individual annoyance ratings in an urban environment in ghana |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/892105 |
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