Does there actually exist any term like sound pollution? Whereas the leaders are pleased with robust slogans. Then who will create the awareness of whom? Though it's a crying need to stop sound pollution, we welcome it with open arms. As a result, it has gone to the dogs.
Avoiding technical terms, the definition will be, "Unpleasant and undesirable sound that causes discomfort in human beings is sound pollution." The world discomfort is the key, isn't it? The person listening to music on loudspeakers is not feeling any discomfort at all. Similarly, the horn user, the person inside the vehicle using a whistle or the person enjoying the fireworks are not feeling discomfort anymore. Then who is feeling discomfort? Do we have time and interest to think about them? No, we don't. Imagine yourself as a little baby at traffic signals, examine in a room next to the road, patient in roadside hospitals, hypertension patients with sleep disorders and construction is going on beside your home at midnight. If we think, what if the sound is polluted? I am out of the pollution staying inside AC cars and houses. Then who will try to make you understand? We should all come forward to minimize this problem. Awareness and proper education is important. Some days ago, I was at Dhaka medical college as my father was admitted there. A boy was riding a bike making all possible sounds with the lowest gear. My father was in a deep sleep. Hearing the horrible sound, my father was awakened. Besides Dhaka Medical College, there are two prestigious universities, namely BUET and Dhaka University. He was very proud of doing that. Because he had done the same thing several times that night. We were all spectators and the audience. This is the scenario of our consciousness. That night, I tried to find out some ways to minimize sound pollution. They are like:
- Public places should be horn free.
- According to requirements, adequate soundproof systems should be installed.
- Trees can help a lot to control sound pollution.
- Absorbent should be used in noisy machinery.
- Factories, mining areas and airports should be separated from residual areas.
- Sound amplifiers and loudspeakers should be banned at religious, social and political events.
- Protective tools should be used.
- Adequate health education should be provided
- People should be made aware of this.
Anyway, it's not time to blame one another. It's high time we changed ourselves. We had better come forward with a helping hand.