Industrial Noise Pollution and Its Impact on the Hearing Capacity of Workers: A Case Study of Gujranwala City, Pakistan

Received: 03 June, 2019 Accepted: 24 July, 2019 Abstract: The main purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate the impact of industrial noise pollution on hearing capacity of workers on Gujranwala City. Noise pollution levels were measured at fifty random sample locations with the help of sound level meter, which was placed at a height above 1.2 meters from the ground. Two hundred workers were interviewed through questionnaire method. Different statistical test correlation such as chi-square was applied to analyze the noise pollution level in Gujranwala city. Impact of industrial noise pollution on hearing of workers was shown through different maps using interpolation and buffer techniques. The present study concluded that noise pollution levels were exceeding the permissible limit of noise pollution at all sample locations (WHO, 2000). Workers of factories were suffering from different mental and physical setbacks like annoyance, hypertension, irritation, interference with speech communication and sleep disturbance. There is a great need of holding hearing discussion programs at various levels in factories. One of its major purposes is to impart education to the works to raise their consciousness about noise risks and techniques of prevention. Lastly, the issues of noise annoyance should be included in all future studies on the usage of hearing protection devices.