ESTIMATION OF NOISE LEVELS IN THE ROAD SIDE PARKS AND STUDY OF ITS IMPACTS ON HEALTH OF VISITORS IN FAISALABAD

ABSTRACT Our environment is comprised of land, air and water, which shows symmetry and balance. Any kind of intervention in the constituents of the environment causes environmental pollution. Noise pollution is the result of one of these effects. It is associated with type/density of noise producing source and its distance. The present study was taken up to investigate the effect of noise pollution on the health of local community. The study was carried out to estimate the increased noise levels at two sites in Faisalabad, namely Canal Park located near the roadside (98 FT) in the form of narrow strip, and the Site-2 Gat Wala Park located (368 ft) away from the main road, and study of its impacts on health of coming visitors. It is concluded from the study that the Visitors were satisfied with the peaceful and calm environment of Site-2 Gat Walla Park while they were unsatisfied with site-1 Canal Park due to its noisy environment. Moreover, the distance of parks from the main road in addition to some other factors like, road and vehicles conditions, density of traffic etc. has adverse impact upon parks environment as well as health of visitors coming in the parks.


INTRODUCTION
The noise pollution has become alarming issue across the world.The noise levels were high and alarming in the areas like industrial-Cum residential, Educational, Commercial-Cum residential, Recreational, and Silence zone [1].Noise can create annoyance and is a big factor of the environmental pollution which often affects the human health, working people or inhabitants in the urban areas have to face increased noise levels.Noise pollution as compared to other environmental issues has greatly attracted the people.During the last decade, in urban areas it has become major problem for the community and its adverse effects upon health have been reported in the form of documents [2].As per study of World Health Organization (WHO) evaluation regarding this factor of noise about one million disability-adjusted life spans were found to be expired in the countries of the Western Europe due to noise pollution.However, Suggestions as important part of the environmental issues and burning issues should be encouraged [3].Green scenery has great positive impacts upon the environment as per scale of analysis Green areas have no significant change with people having exposure of 55 to 59 dB(A) and more than 70 dB(A) by Agglomeration analysis and power full relation between noise and green areas were analyzed by Geographical Weighted Regression GWR analysis and similarly urban morphology has also significant impacts on noise pollution [4].Noise pollution and its impacts upon health can be studied through GIS techniques and the instant method was proved more effective in the areas without census.Further 40 Km/hr reductions in speed can reduce in noise level upto 30 % and If we look upon its impacts on the health of individuals, the increased noise levels during peak time due to high traffic flow affect the people badly and further non-communicable noise has also bad impacts upon the health of patients, like irritation and headache [5][6][7].Noise pollution due to increased traffic load has link with disease of cardiovascular [8].The people found suffering from injuries affected by the Traffic load which is also responsible for polluting the environment with lead, toxicity and lung diseases and other health issues.
People financially strong and educated are well informed of impacts of noise levels on health.It was also found that noise levels have great impacts on marital status people along with its impacts upon daily routine works like rest, reading and communication disturbance etc. 85% individuals of the city responded that the noise pollution has great disturbance in their life, while 90% responded that high levels of the traffic is responsible for headache, hypertension, loss of balance and tiredness [9].Noise pollution greatly depend upon the type of vehicles like mini buses in addition to traffic flow on congested and busy roads [10].Bad road conditions, shapes, commercial areas, residential areas and shopping centers are the main source of alarming noise pollution in addition to loud speaker, railway, musical instruments, air traffic etc. [11].
Industrial areas have also vital role for increase of noise levels like cement plant where the noise can be controlled by source of noise along with angle, its transmission and spreading, and noise gaining individuals.From engineering point of view, noise levels can be managed by through some measures like noise reduction of effects, its absorption, and its insulation in order to gain its economical and excellent results of noise control [12].Noise mitigation techniques and rules should be adopted, like prediction Earth Sciences Pakistan (ESP) DOI : http://doi.org/10.26480/esp.01.2019.14.22 of noise levels and its impacts on health symptoms as annoyance, sleep interference through model sound propagation [13].
The instant study also deals with impacts of increased noise levels on visitors coming in the natural parks, where they often come along with family for relax, in restful, peaceful, and undisturbed environment.It was observed that sites of some natural parks either are not properly selected for the purpose or they surrounded by the congested roads with all types of traffic.The objectives of this study were 1.To estimate and compare the noise levels in the Canal Park located at Samundri Road, and Gatt Walla Park at Sheikhupura Road, Faisalabad.
2. To study the impacts of increased noise levels on health of visitors using qualitative research method

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The present study deals with estimation of noise levels in the two local parks which are considered silence zones as per Pakistan Environmental Agency rules, some of the parks of urban areas are very close to the main road and these roads are noisy and affecting the dwelling areas like residential, parks, hospital, offices, educational circles etc.
The effects of noise levels on visitors have been studied along with estimation and comparison of noise levels in the both parks namely, Canal Park located at Samundri Road, and Gatt Walla Park at Sheikhupura Road, Faisalabad.The whole study was conducted with the help of Digital Sound Meter NA-24 and Digital Stop watch was used to measure the time taken for each level.

Research Methodology
The following methodology was adopted for the required task: 1. Two parks were selected for measuring the increased noise levels, one is Site-1 Canal Park located at Samundri Road which is problematic site, while second location was selected at Site-2 Gat Wala Park located at Sheikhupura road, Faisalabad respectively.
2. Two locations were selected at suitable distance from the main road to the problematic site-1 Canal Park, similarly two locations of Site-2 Gat Wala Park were also selected for measuring the noise levels of the parks.Before selecting the locations of the two sites whole parks (two sites) were surveyed so that appropriate and most affected areas and less affected areas of the park can be distinguished.

Sampling and Data Collection
Data was collected from 01 February 2018 to 28 February 2018 at both sites.It was collected at peak hours from 7:00 am to 9:00 am in the morning, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the noon and from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the evening times respectively.Traffic density was measured in addition to estimated Noise level data of the observed locations on all days of two consecutive weeks during the entire spell for one site and similarly next two weeks the study was continued for the second site.The battery as well as routine working calibration were checked before taking any reading on each observation day.
Our data sampling time was divided into three segments of one hour by taking each reading at the interval of 20 minutes.The duration of each reading was first 20 sec of each 20 minutes spell.In this manner daily readings were based on eighteen spells (6 spells / 2hours), for one location of site-1 Canal Park, similarly same sampling methods were adopted while taking readings of increased noise levels at second location of site-1 and two locations of the site-2, Gat Wala Park.The main purpose for adopting this type of sampling techniques was to obtain the accurate and stable readings.During the whole research activity, the care was taken by keeping the meter be placed along with its microphone facing the direction of noise source (traffic passing through sampled site).
During this research activity qualitative method was adopted to check the response of the visitors on their health due to noise pollution coming in the both parks under observations for this purpose, Interview proforma were prepared on the basis of both gender of different span of ages.
Questions were asked about the impacts of increased noise levels due to traffic on main roads near to the parks like hypertension, stress, annoyance, behavior change etc. instant study was further categorized by taking 60 Samples different ages excluding immature visitors were selected at random from each park to check their general response on the said symptoms due to increased noise levels.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The whole study was conducted for estimation of noise levels (Leq) at two local Parks namely (Site-1 Canal Park) situated at Samundri road and Site-2 Gat Wala situated at Sheikhupura road respectively in Faisalabad city.The two locations of each site were selected for estimating the noise produced by the vehicles of all types at the roads adjacent to the relevant park.Along with noise levels produced by the traffic, traffic density on the roads under observation was also calculated.
The traffic passing through this selected road comprised of buses, trucks, cars, wagons, motorbikes, auto rickshaws along with slow moving vehicles like Carts, Tongas, and Bicycles etc.The high number of traffic load consisting cars, bicycles, bikes, and school buses, and other light traffic were observed high, at peak office and school time from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and at noon from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and at evening from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.Different levels of noise variation were observed for each location of the Site-1 Canal Park for two weeks.Two locations were selected one near the road side while second in the center of the park, similarly two locations of the Site-2 Gat Wala Park were selected for the same purpose respectively.The relationship of noise levels with traffic density and time and its impacts upon the visitors coming in the park on daily or casual basis were estimated where they come expecting this quiet area for relax, and happiness.The Canal Park is situated at the location dwelling residential and industrial areas and very near to the main road noise producing source.The canal park is found suffering from issue of lack of administration, and the visitors coming in the Canal Park are not looking happy due to noisy area and many people were observed coming in the while driving their bikes, and some time groups of teen ages looking playing their Cricket and other games adding their loud noise and making environment more polluted.While this type of lapse and ignorance were not observed in the Gat Wala Park where people were found satisfactorily with the peaceful and calm environment of the park, while park administration was also looking active for maintaining the park.The most important factor which makes this park peaceful is its distance from the main road noise producing source which is about 368 ft while this distance was measured in the Site-1 Canal Park as 98 ft.This factor clearly indicates distance from the noise producing source has major role in polluting the natural environment.The Site-1 is located at about 98 ft away from the main road (noise producing source) while The Site-2 is located at about 368 ft away from the main road respectively.In addition to this some other factors are also responsible for increase of noise levels which are listed as follow: 1. Vehicle speed, engine speed, condition of the vehicle and its use.
2. Improper and misuse of pressure horn and its continuous use which produce high level of noise pollution.
3. Interference of slow-moving vehicles like Tongas, carts etc. in the normal flow of traffic creating often traffic Jam resulting in use of pressure horn and consequently increased noise level.
4. Road conditions also has bad impacts not only upon the vehicles, but it also causes the increased noise levels and use of pressure horn.
5. Different vehicles have different intensity of noise level, like pressure horn, engine, size of vehicles etc. and is highly responsible for creating noise level when derived improperly.
It is notable that the whole study was conducted during the winter peaks season along with ambient Temperature, while the strength of visitors coming in the parks also less due chilling days.The data of behavior change due to annoyance, stress, communication problems, blood pressure were obtained by qualitative method and for this purpose proforma for demographic information and for valuable comments and response were distributed among the visitors and analyzed through statistical approach using Model for Analysis of Variance ANOVA, t-test, correlation test.

Interpretation of Mean Noise Level with Noise Level of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of Pakistan) Standard
The figure 3

Applying Modeling Approach
Following Flow chart gives a brief logic behind study.

STATISTICAL RESULTS
Following information was collected during this qualitative research study:

Individual Value Plot of Tr.Density 95% CI for the Mean
Individual standard deviations were used to calculate the intervals.
Fig. 8 shows that the traffic density has great impact upon the increased noise levels, as the noise levels in the Site-1 Canal Park are significantly high with about more than double traffic density as compared to the Site-2 Gat Wala Park.

Figure 9: Bar Chart of BP in two Parks
It was observed in fig. 9 that 6 out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the blood pressure due to noise pollution while 4 out of 60 showed mild and 1 out of 60 showed low response in the site-1 Canal Park, contrarily, all sampled 60 visitors in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any symptom of stress due to noise pollution, which mean the mostly response observed in this regard was nil (Blood Pressure) and confirming that the environment of the Gat Wala Park is peaceful and calm while environment of the Canal Park is noisy and affecting health of the visitors and similarly other symptoms were investigated through this study.Similarly, for annoyance depicted in fig.12 showed that 49 out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the annoyance due to noise pollution 8 out 60 showed mild and 3 out of 60 showed low response in the site-1 Canal Park, contrarily, 59 out of 60 visitors in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any symptom of annoyance due to noise pollution while 1 out of 60 showed low response, which mean the mostly response observed in this regard was nil (Annoyance) and confirming that the environment of the Gat Wala Park is peaceful and calm while environment of the Canal Park is noisy and affecting health of the visitors.15 while 13 male and 3 females out 60 showed mild, 28 males out of 60 showed low. 10 males out of 60 and 1out of 60 did not show any response in the site-1 Canal Park, contrarily, all sampled 60 visitors including both male and female except 2 visitors in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any symptom of Stress due to noise pollution [15].
Figure 17: Bar Chart of annoyance between both sites 44 male and 3 female out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the annoyance problem due to noise pollution by the fig.16 while 8 male out of 60 showed mild , 3 male out of 60 showed low and 2 out of 60 did not show any response in the site-1 Canal Park, Contrarily, all sampled 60 visitors including both male and female except 2 visitors in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any symptom of Annoyance due to noise pollution, which mean the mostly response observed in this regard was nil (Annoyance).Graphical representation in fig.18 clearly indicates that 5male and 3 female out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the sleep loss problem due to noise pollution while 7 male and 1 female out of 60 showed mild, no one out of 60 showed low, ale and 2 female showed nil and 2 out of 60 did not show any response in the site-1 Canal Park, contrarily, all sampled 60 visitors including both male and female except 2 visitors in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any symptom of Sleep Loss due to noise pollution.

CONCLUSIONS
In the present research activity noise pollution and its impacts on the health of individuals were studied, in two sites, namely Site-1 Canal Park and Site-2 Gat Wala Site of Faisalabad city.The observed noise levels in the Site-1 Canal Park Site-1 is very high i.e Mean 73.2 dB (A) at locatrion-1 and Mean 63.4 dB(A) at location-2.The observed noise levels at Site-2 Gatwala Park were i.e 54.4 dB(A) and 54.2 dB(A) at location-1 and location-2 respectively.The results then compared with standard fixed by PEPA for Chart of slpls, Park, Gender noise levels in silence zone (Parks) at day time.The results obtained at site-1 both locations were high as compare to this safe limit of noise levels fixed by the EPA while noise levels measured at both locations of Gat Wala Park Site-2 were found close the noise level fixed by the EPA for silence zone day time (Parks).The high noise levels at site-1 Canal Park located in the center of the city dwelling congested residential, industrial, and offices areas is found due to close distance (98 ft) of the park from the main road and traffic density which is more than the Site-2 Gat Wala Park which is located at about 368 ft from the main road and this park is also calm and peaceful due its location outside the city.Further the qualitative study was performed and estimation of noise levels with statistical analysis and plotting of the data was performed.Proformas were prepared and distributed among the visitors of the different ages in order to study the impacts on noise levels on their health like Communication Problem, Stress, Blood Pressure, Annoyance, sleep loss.The results were statically studied through bar Charts.The said results clearly reflects that visitors highly responded as high and medium in about all symptoms except hypertension in Site-1 Canal Park while in Site-2 Gat Wala Park, the visitors responded as nil and low factor through this qualitative survey, and these results were compared with the standards set by the EPA as 50 dB(A) for day time for silence zone, which shows that the Site-2 Gat Wala Park Site-2 is near to silence zone, while Site-1 Canal Park is found more problematic site with high noise levels above the safe limits for silence zone.The above study concluded that the Site-1 Canal Park Site-1 is problematic site and people are not looking happy and the strength of the visitors coming with family and food in Gat Wala Park Site-2 is more due to peaceful and quiet environment as compare to the Cana Park Site-1.

Figure 1 :Figure 2 :
Figure 1: Geographical position of Gatwala Park located 368 ft away from the main road (a) & (b) reflects the noise levels measured at both locations of site-1 Canal Park during peak hours from 7am to 9 am (Morning), 1pm to 3 pm (Noon) and 7 to 9 pm (Evening) times, it was observed noise levels measured at both locations of the park are very high with mean of 73.2 dB (A) and 66.3 dB (A) and these noise levels are significantly high as compared to EPA standard 50 dB (A) for day time for Silence Zones and these noise levels which are significantly high are affecting the health of the visitors like stress, annoyance, hypertension etc. badly.

Figure 5 :
Figure 5: Comparison of Average Noise Level of both sites against EPA Standard3.3Effects of Traffic Density on Noise levelIt is already established in Fig.4 and 5that the increased noise level depends upon the distance from the main road noise producing source, while in Fig.6the effects of traffic density upon noise levels were analyzed.It is indicated in the Fig.5that the traffic density in site-1 Canal Park is significantly high due to urban and industrial dwellings while in Site-2 Gat Wala Park the traffic density is low due to its location out of the urban areas where population density is low.The achieved results clearly indicate that the traffic density at site-1 Canal Park is more than double than traffic density measured at the site-2 Gat Wala Park with correlation effects.

Figure 6 :
Figure 6: Correlation between traffic density and mean noise level, dB (A)

Figure 7 :
Figure 7: Effects of noise pollution Step 1: Establishing Traffic Density being source of Noise First, we establish that the major determinant of Noise is Traffic Density.In other words, Traffic density contributes significantly towards making/creating Noise.For establishing this we have used regression analysis.Following regression results are presented by taking Noise as dependent and Traffic Density as Independent variable.

Figure 8 :
Figure 8: Difference of Average Noise Level at both sites due to larger difference of Traffic Density between both sites.

Figure 10 :
Figure 10: Bar Chart of Communication problem between both sites It is clearly indicated in the fig.10 that 58 out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the communication problem (interference) due to noise pollution while 2 showed mild and low response in the site-1 Canal Park, contrarily, all sampled 60 visitors in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any interference due to noise pollution, which mean mostly response observed in this regard was nil (communication Problem).

Figure 11 :
Figure 11: Bar Chart of Stress problem between both sites 5 out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the stress due to noise pollution 16 out 60 showed mild response 29 out of 60 showed low

Figure 12 :
Figure 12: Bar Chart of Annoyance problem between both sites

Figure 13 :
Figure 13: Bar Chart of Sleep Loss problem between both sitesGraphical representation of the visitors affected by the noise levels in both sites for sleep loss showed that 6 out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the sleep loss due to noise pollution and 8 out 60 showed mild and 46 out of 60 showed low response in the site-1 Canal Park, contrarily, all sampled 60 visitors in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any symptom of sleep loss due to noise pollution, It was observed during the instant qualitative results that Gat Wala Park is peaceful and calm while environment of the Canal Park is noisy and affecting health of the visitors.

Figure 14 :
Figure 14: Bar Chart of Blood Pressure problem between both sites5 males out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the Blood Pressure due to noise pollution depicted in fig.13while 3 out 60 showed mild and 1out of 60 showed low response out of 60 did not show any response in the site-1 Canal Park, contrarily, all sampled 60 except 1 visitors including both male and female in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any symptom of Blood Pressure due to noise pollution, Results showed that mostly observed response in this regard was nil.

Figure 15 :
Figure 15: Bar Chart of Communication problem between both sitesGraphical representation in fig.14represents 53 male and 3 female out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the communication problem due to noise pollution while 1 female out 60 showed mild and 1out of 60 showed low response and 2 did not show any response in the site-1 Canal Park, contrarily, all sampled 60 visitors including both male and female except 2 visitors in the Site-2 Gat Wala Park did not show any symptom of communication problem due to noise pollution.

Figure 16 :
Figure 16: Bar Chart of Stress problem between both sites 4 males out of 60 visitors responded highly affected by the stress problem

Figure 18 :
Figure 18: Bar Chart of Sleep Loss problem between both sites

Table 1 :
Day time temperature in Site-2 Gata Walla Park

Table 2 :
Traffic Density

Table 2 :
ANOVA Test for Average Noise Level and Traffic Density ANOVAa

Table 3 :
Standardized and unstandardized coefficient Coefficients

Table 4 :
Comparison of traffic Density in both sites

Table 5 :
Comparison of traffic Density in both sites (Site-1 Canal Park and Site-2 Gat Wala Park)

Table 6 :
Comparison of Average Noise Level between both sites (Site-1 Canal Park and Site-2 Gat Wala Park)

Table 7 :
T-test for comparison of means between both sites (Site-1 Canal Park and Site-2 Gat Wala Park) Comparing levels of Blood Pressure, anxiety, Stress at two locations Now it means we can test for average Blood pressures etc. for these two locations at step 4. If these levels are different, then keeping step-1, 2, 3 in view, it could be logically concluded that increases Traffic Density (hence Increased Noise) leads towards many health-related problems.It was observed that traffic noise levels especially for those parks located very near to the road has great impacts upon visitors' health like communication problem, stress, annoyance, hypertension etc. Normally the visitors come in the park for walk and entertainment purposes but were found complainant of affected by the road traffic noise.They were interviewed through tested instrument (proforma) circulated with Demographic Scale information and containing some important questions related to their health.