Traffic Noise Pollution in Karachi, Pakistan

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of traffic noise in the city of Karachi. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive, cross sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION: Karachi, August 2008. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six different sites were selected from busy locations in different areas of Karachi for study. Same persons made all recordings. Kamplex sound level meter (SLM3) with built-in calibrated condenser microphone was used for all recordings. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Two major roads of the city namely M.A Jinnah Road and Shahrah-e-Faisal were selected for study. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Air traffic noise, Railway stations, vendors with their loudspeakers and loud music played on certain vehicles were all excluded from the study. RESULTS: Maximum level of noise was 110 dB (A), recorded from Autorikshaw & Motorcycles (without silencers) and Minibuses. Maximum noise was observed during the peak rush hours between 01.00 p.m. to 03.00 p.m. & 05.00 p.m. to 07.00 p.m. and was in the range of 110 dB (A) with a dip of about 5 10 dB (A) between 03.00 p.m. to 05.00 p.m. The noisiest site was found to be M.A Jinnah Road (Merewether Tower & opposite K.M.C building). The mean values of noise level in the commercial and residential areas were 95.75dB (A) and 60 dB (A) respectively. CONCLUSION: Karachi is facing an enormous problem of exceedingly high levels of traffic noise, which is significantly higher than all the available international data.