Noise Pollution in Teshie-Nungua Schools

Abstract

Schools located in the Teshie-Nungua area a suburb of Accra, have their background noise levels above 55 dB, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended noise level in educational facility. A maximum noise level (L_max) value of 95.8 dB and a minimum noise level (L_min) value of 51.6 dB were recorded. In this paper, a Quest Technologies 210 Model sound level meter equipped with a microphone had been used to measure noise levels in schools around the Teshie-Nungua area. It has been shown that about 90 % of the measured schools presented equivalent noise levels (L_eq) above 72.5 dB. Pupils were exposed to a high noise pollution level (L_NP) value of 95.8 dB and the day and night noise levels (L_dn) in and around the target schools were all above 72 dB. About 98% of schools in the Teshie-Nungua area do not have acoustic materials to minimize noise levels has been established. It was observed that schools in the study area are located in mixed commercial and semi-commercial areas. Nearly 80 % of survey respondents ranked Constant Traffic as number one source of noise. These measured noise levels have the potential to adversely affect the hearing of the pupils in these schools if the required sound proof mechanism is not put in place.

Keywords: Equivalent noise level, Noise level, Noise pollution, Teshie-Nungua.