Study of Air and Noise Pollution in Mega Cities of India

摘要

Public health studies are linked to both air and noise pollution in terms of common adverse health effects attributed to severity of such pollution such as increased blood pressure, heart diseases, and other respiratory ailments. In urban areas of mega cities, air and noise pollution originating from different sources such as traffic, industries and construction activities, etc., is on gradual and alarming increase. In view of the same, objective of this study was to analyze the air and noise pollution levels in three megacities of India, namely Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai during 2006-2011 at different locations categorized as industrial, commercial, and institutional areas. Following the analysis, the equivalent noise levels (L_(eq)) of all the cities were found to be slightly greater than permissible limits of CPCB guidelines whereas the criteria pollutants SO_2, PM_(10)and NOx showed a positive relation between noise levels and air pollution. This statistical comparative analysis as an importantoutcome will help understand the actual trend of air and noise pollution during different years in various Indian mega cities and subsequent mitigation measures.