Mumbai: Visarjan noise can impact health, say Doctors

Despite the Bombay High court's interim ban on DJs and Dolby sound systems during immersion procession, Mumbaikars continue to brave the risk of noise pollution on the fifth day of Ganpati visarjan. 

On the fifth day of Ganpati immersion, many places in the city recorded up to 112.6 decibel level of noise which is much higher than the permissible level. Exposure to such high decibel sounds can have negative impact on health, opine health experts.

On the fifth day of Ganesh visarjan, the noise level at Worli reached 112.6 decibels, much higher than permissible level according to Noise Pollution rules.

Explaining the extent of the damage, Dr Shrinivas Chavan, Head of ENT, JJ Hospital said, "Any sound above 80 dB is dangerous and will have both short and long-term implications on health. Most common issues directly related to long-term exposure to loud noise are hypertension, high blood pressure and dizziness. It may also lead to premature deliveries and noise-induced hearing deficiency."

While some groups, such as infants and children, pregnant women, the elderly, cardiac and asthmatic patients, those suffering from a migraine and recuperating from surgeries, are at greater risk, healthy citizens too are affected by it. Though the threshold of pain is around 140 dB, any sound emitted above 80 dB is harmful.

"Direct effects include high blood pressure and sleep disturbances; indirect effects which arise due to sustained exposure include anxiety, mood-swings and workplace accidents arising from lack of concentration," said Dr Dillon D'Souza, an ENT consultant at Jaslok Hospital.

Worli has remained the hot spot for noise pollution for three consecutive years. Traditional instruments linked with loudspeakers created the highest level of noise during the processions. Despite banning of DJ, noise level remained the same as last year.

The other places were not far behind. Shastri Nagar at Santacruz was the second noisiest at 107.8 decibels.

Even Juhu Koliwada, Mahim Victoria Church, Linking Road, Lotus garden recorded noise levels above 100 decibels on Monday. The noise of traditional instruments like banjos, Nashik dhols and drums combined with loudspeakers made for a lethal combination which amplified the noise by manifolds.

Despite police presence, no action was taken as the noise level reached beyond permissible levels. Even after 10 pm procession was carried out with loudspeakers and banjos clearly flouting rules, said Sumaira Abdulali, founder of Awaaz Foundation, an NGO working for noise-free city.

A LESS NOISY THANE

Thane Ganpati immerssion processions were less noisy compared to Mumbai. The highest level of noise was recorded in Shastri Nagar which was 100 decibel. Gokhale Road near Agrawal Hospital also recorded 95 to 100 decible level noise at about 8.25 pm. Though High Court has banned DJs, procession near Malhar Cinema and Vartak Nagar, near Dr Kelkar Hospital saw DJs. Police were present at some places did not make any attempt to restrict them, noted Dr Mahesh Bedekar from Thane.

SILENT ZONES

Last year, Ministry of Environment and Forest amended noise rules and gave power to the state to declare silent zones. The BMC identified 110 silence zones which were chosen out of an older list of more than 1,500 silence zones. The list was approved. The BMC officer is not yet ready with the second list. “We are working on it. We are waiting for the list from the ward officer. We will compile and forward it to state,” said an officer from the BMC environment department on condition of anonymity.