UP's Moradabad Second On UN List of Noisiest Cities in the World

Moradabad:?

The Uttar Pradesh city of Moradabad has made its mark on the globe map, but not for specific reasons. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recent 'Annual Frontier Report, 2022,' Moradabad is the world's second-most noise-polluted city. The city reported a deafening 114 decibels of noise pollution (dB).

According to the 'Frontiers 2022: Noise, Blazes, and Mismatches' research, Bangladesh's city Dhaka has the highest noise pollution level of 119 decibels, while Pakistan's capital Islamabad is in third place with a noise pollution status of 105 dB.

There are 13 South Asian cities on the list, five of which are in India: Kolkata (89 dB), Asansol (89 dB), Jaipur (84 dB), and Delhi (83 dB).

The World's 15 Most Noisy Cities:

1.?????Dhaka (Bangladesh) - 119 dB

2.?????Moradabad (India) - 114 dB

3.?????Islamabad (Pakistan) - 105 dB

4.?????Rajshahi (Bangladesh) - 103 dB

5.?????Ho Chi Minh City (Viet Nam) - 103 dB

6.?????Ibadan (Nigeria) - 101 dB

7.?????Kupondole (Nepal) - 100 dB

8.?????Algiers (Algeria) - 100 dB

9.?????Bangkok (Thailand) - 99 dB

10.?New York (US) - 95 dB

11.?Damascus (Syria) - 94 dB

12.?Manila (Philippines) - 92 dB

13.?Hong Kong (China) - 89 dB

14.?Kolkata (India) - 89 dB

15.?Asanol (India) - 89 dB

According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the permitted noise level limits for outdoor residential areas are 55 dB (decibels) LAeq (equivalent continuous sound level is the sound level in decibels) and 70 dB LAeq (equivalent continuous sound level is the sound level in decibels)

According to experts, prolonged exposure to noise levels exceeding 70 decibels can raise the chance of hearing damage.

"Exposure to environmental noise sources such as road traffic, air traffic, trains, machinery, industry, and recreational activities has well-documented detrimental consequences on physical and mental well-being," according to the report.

What Are the Recommended Sound Levels?

According to WHO standards, the permitted noise level limitations for outdoor residential zones are 55 decibels (dB) and 70 decibels (dB) for commercial and traffic sectors. According to the World Health Organization, a sound with a frequency of over 70 decibels is hazardous to one's health.

The Quietest Cities in the World

According to UNEP research, Irbid (Jordan) is the quietest city in the world at 60 decibels, followed by Lyon (France) at 69 decibels, Madrid (Spain) at 69 decibels, Stockholm (Sweden) at 70 decibels, and Belgrade (Serbia) at 70 decibels.

What is the Message of the Report?

"High levels of noise harm human health and well-being by disturbing sleep or drowning out the useful and positive acoustic messages of many animal species that live in these places," UNEP executive director Inger Andersen said in the report.

The UNEP study cited observations from global cities. "Two 15-year-long investigations of long-term tenants of Toronto found that disclosure to road traffic noise upgraded risks for acute myocardial restriction and congestive heart breakdown, and increased most diabetes mellitus by 8 percent and hypertension by 2 percent," according to the report.

"Regular exposure to noise levels of over 85 decibels for an 8-hour day or longer can result in permanent hearing loss. Long-term noise exposures, even at lower levels than those found in urban settings, can harm both physical and mental health "The report has issued a warning.

"However, alternatives exist, varying from electrified transportation to green spaces–all of which must be integrated into city planning to reduce noise pollution."

Some suggested solutions include the usage of tree belts and the use of electric automobiles.

By SarTia Global