Measurement and Evaluations of Environmental Noise at Agbara Market, Ogun State, Nigeria
Yusuf Olanrewaju Kayode, Anthony Segara Ajose , Adegoke Jude Alomaja, Femi Emmanuel Ikuemonisan, Farouk Ajeigbe Kasika
Keywords: Noise quality, Pollution, Environment, Noise Level Equivalent, Temperature
Abstract
Noise is an undesirable sound that is considered to be unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to hearing. Noise has been observed to increase daily with increasing human activities in our environment. This is because of the increase in population, social and commercial activities, as well as improvements in industrial engagements. The aim of this study is to measure and evaluate the noise level and its effects on human at Agbara market, Ogun state in Nigeria using five different locations which were carefully selected based on commercial activities around the metropolitan. The measurement of sound level (dB) and temperature was carried out using a TM840M model noise meter. The mean noise level was obtained from the instrument which was analyzed to give the noise level equivalent (Leq) of each selected location. The results were compared with the noise quality description to ascertain whether the noise level at Agbara market is suitable for human hearing or not. The results showed that morning time noise quality of no market days were satisfactory with a noise level equivalent (Leq) of 61.00 dBA. The noise level equivalent (Leq) in the afternoon and evening were unsatisfactory with a value of 82.60 dBA and 75.40 dBA respectively which was recorded within a temperature range between 25°C and 31°C. The same variations were also observed on Market days with a value of 65.80 dBA in the morning (satisfactory) while it recorded a value of 84.80 dBA in the afternoon (unsatisfactory) and 78.20 dBA in the evening (unsatisfactory). The morning hours during the weekends show good quality with a value of 59.80 dBA. The afternoon was unsatisfactory with a value of 82.00 dBA meanwhile evening noise level equivalent (Leq) was satisfactory with a value of 68.20 dBA which was also within the same temperature range. These values were higher than the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) standard limits for outdoor environment which is 65.00 dBA and becomes harmful when it exceeds 75.00 dBA. Therefore, Agbara market area should be decongested through proper planning by government to reduce the noise level in the environment in order to safeguard the physical and mental health of its inhabitants and users.