Assessment of Noise Pollution Level of Selected Construction Sites with in the Residential Area in Obio/Akpo Local Government Area, Rivers States, Nigeria
Biibaloo L. Legborsi
Department of Surgery (ENT Surgery), Rivers State University Nkoplu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Nwii A. Abel *
Department of Physics, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Nwanne T. Ilugo
Department of Physics, University of Delta Agbor, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The measurement of industrial noise pollution level of selected construction sites within residential area in Obio/Akpo Local Government Area of Rivers State has been carried out. The noise level meter with range of 30.0 - 80.0 dBA. (BK Precision 732, IEC 651 TYPE II) was use in measuring the sound level of the selected construction sites. Four (4) selected construction sites was considered for the measurement of industrial noise pollution of the construction sites. The obtained results of the selected construction sites vary from 77.40 - 81.25 dBA, 77.0 - 80.90 dBA, 75.4 - 81.15 dBA, 67.30 – 81.90 dBA with mean of 79.77 dBA, 77.41 dBA,79.53 dBA, 70.21 dBA for Plus Steel, Zortex, Darlington and Gift Construction Site respectively. Higher noise pollution level was obtained from Pius Steel Construction site with mean of 79.77 dBA and the least noise level was recorded at Gift Construction Site with mean value of 70.21 dBA. The obtained results of the selected construction sites were higher than the stipulated value of 65.0 dBA and 55.0 dBA decibels for industrial and residential area recommended by NESREA (2009). The noise percentage of the construction sites is of the increasing order of Gift, Pius < Zortex < Darlington < Pius Steel Construction Sites and the least percentage was obtained in Gift construction site while the higher noise percentage was recorded in Pius Steel Construction site with 27% increment. The obtained noise pollution level of the selected construction sites within the study area shows that the workers and the residential area are exposed to high noise level. The obtained result may not pose any immediate health risk but an individual who may spent his/her life time within the area, may develop hearing impairment in the nearer time due to over exposure to noise pollution level within the immediate environment and construction sites should be located outside the residential area.
Keywords: Noise level, construction, site, health risk and human ear