Doctors want April 26 to be no-honking day in India
Dangers of noise pollution range from high blood pressure and irritability, to hearing-related issues (Thinkstock)
 VIRAT A SINGH | Thu, 30 Mar 2017-07:45am , Mumbai , DNA
​Physicians hope the initiative will raise awareness on the health hazards of noise pollution 
Doctors who have been warning you of the perils of noise pollution, a major trigger for several ailments including cardiac issues, now intend to ensure that all of India observes a no-honking day on April 26.
According to Kerala-based ENT surgeon Dr C John Panicker, National Convenor of National Initiative for Safe Sound (NISS), about 200 representatives of Indian Medical Association (IMA) from across India discussed the serious implications of rising pollution in a meeting recently held in Delhi. During the meeting, doctors took the decision to ask the country to observe International Noise Awareness Day on April 26 as a no-honking day.
“The Kerala government has already made this a state initiative. Actor Mohanlal has agreed to be the brand ambassador. We will be recording a message from him to dissuade people from senseless honking and encourage participation on the No-Honking Day,” said Panicker. IMA members in Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karanataka, and some other states are planning various events to promote minimum use of honking, he told DNA.
According to Panicker, NISS and IMA members have been working together on the issue for a while. “The medical fraternity is best equipped to create awareness among patients on the serious health hazards of noise pollution. Noise pollution is the number one reason for permanent hearing loss and health complications such as heart-related ailments, stress, and acidity,” he explained.
There is an urgent need to curb noise pollution from traffic. Some of the horns produce sound between 100 to 120 decibels (dB). Continuous exposure to such high levels of noise is extremely harmful, Dr Panicker said.
Mumbai-based anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali will be coordinating with IMA representatives from Maharashtra and the Mumbai Traffic Police head to make the campaign a success in the city.
Abdulali, who is the founder of Awaaz Foundation, said that the Central Government should step in and ensure that all Indian states observe April 26 as No Honking Day, with special focus on cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Lucknow, and Hyderabad that top the list of India’s noisiest cities.
“Noise pollution can be blamed for everything from irritability to high blood pressure. There is a rise in the number of people coming to us with hearing-related issues. Studies have shown that if a person is exposed to noise of above 80 decibels for eight hours a day for eight years, s/he can suffer permanent deafness,” said Dr MV Jagade, ENT surgeon at JJ hospital, who has also been working on creating awareness on the health implications of noise pollution.


©2017 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.

Doctors want April 26 to be no-honking day in India
Dangers of noise pollution range from high blood pressure and irritability, to hearing-related issues 
 VIRAT A SINGH | Thu, 30 Mar 2017-07:45am , Mumbai , DNA
​Physicians hope the initiative will raise awareness on the health hazards of noise pollution 
Doctors who have been warning you of the perils of noise pollution, a major trigger for several ailments including cardiac issues, now intend to ensure that all of India observes a no-honking day on April 26.
According to Kerala-based ENT surgeon Dr C John Panicker, National Convenor of National Initiative for Safe Sound (NISS), about 200 representatives of Indian Medical Association (IMA) from across India discussed the serious implications of rising pollution in a meeting recently held in Delhi. During the meeting, doctors took the decision to ask the country to observe International Noise Awareness Day on April 26 as a no-honking day.
“The Kerala government has already made this a state initiative. Actor Mohanlal has agreed to be the brand ambassador. We will be recording a message from him to dissuade people from senseless honking and encourage participation on the No-Honking Day,” said Panicker. IMA members in Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karanataka, and some other states are planning various events to promote minimum use of honking, he told DNA.
According to Panicker, NISS and IMA members have been working together on the issue for a while. “The medical fraternity is best equipped to create awareness among patients on the serious health hazards of noise pollution. Noise pollution is the number one reason for permanent hearing loss and health complications such as heart-related ailments, stress, and acidity,” he explained.
There is an urgent need to curb noise pollution from traffic. Some of the horns produce sound between 100 to 120 decibels (dB). Continuous exposure to such high levels of noise is extremely harmful, Dr Panicker said.
Mumbai-based anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali will be coordinating with IMA representatives from Maharashtra and the Mumbai Traffic Police head to make the campaign a success in the city.
Abdulali, who is the founder of Awaaz Foundation, said that the Central Government should step in and ensure that all Indian states observe April 26 as No Honking Day, with special focus on cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Lucknow, and Hyderabad that top the list of India’s noisiest cities.
“Noise pollution can be blamed for everything from irritability to high blood pressure. There is a rise in the number of people coming to us with hearing-related issues. Studies have shown that if a person is exposed to noise of above 80 decibels for eight hours a day for eight years, s/he can suffer permanent deafness,” said Dr MV Jagade, ENT surgeon at JJ hospital, who has also been working on creating awareness on the health implications of noise pollution.



©2017 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.

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CR’s new trains have made your commute noisier: StudyReport by Awaaz Foundation says loudspeakers which make announcements about each station are to blame
​MUMBAI Updated: Mar 23, 2017 23:20 IST
Snehal Fernandes 
Hindustan Times
The preliminary report found that many of the announcements were non-essential and frequent, with loudspeakers in use even when the train had reached the platform.(HT File Photo)
New local trains have made your daily commute noisier. Preliminary findings by non-government organisation Awaaz Foundation found that noise levels inside new Central Railway trains, which have loudspeakers, almost matched those of the old trains, inside which announcements were not made.
When the loudspeakers on new trains, which ply between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Sewri, made announcements about upcoming stations in English, Hindi and Marathi, noise levels reached 88.8 decibels (dB). Noise levels in old trains were anywhere between 82dB and 88.4dB. The new trains have lower background noise levels, which include commuters talking and movement of trains. This ranges from 72.8dB to 74.2dB. The screeching sound a train makes when it breaks makes the maximum noise(100.6dB).
The preliminary report found that many of the announcements were non-essential and frequent, with loudspeakers in use even when the train had reached the platform. “Commuting is a large part of people’s lives, one they spend hours on. There is a restriction on how much noise people should be exposed to for health reasons. While there are a number of other problems such as overcrowding, extra noise definitely adds to commuters’ stress,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation. 
Studies have shown that diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, hearing loss and mental illness are all impacts of noise pollution. High noise levels also cause sleep disturbances and adversely affect work productivity.
“Why do we need loudspeakers in the train? A silent airport made fliers’ lives so much better,” said Abdulali. “About 90% of commuters are regulars who do not need to be told which station is coming up. For those who don’t, such as foreigners, commuters are very helpful.”
Chief public relations officer for Central Railway, Narendra Patil, called the preliminary findings “far-fetched”. “There are many commuters who are not regulars. The announcements alert them about upcoming stations and are much-appreciated . Noise levels from loudspeaker announcements are lower than noise levels of commuters talking or other trains passing by,” he said.
Abdulali plans to write to railway minister Suresh Prabhu. “Railways need to look at solutions to reduce overall noise. A simple method would be to stop unnecessary additional noise,” said Abdulali. “Even if the announcements are not that loud, they are still disturbing as they are artificial sounds. The yelling of commuters is still a natural sound,” she said.
Last year, Awaaz Foundation had recorded noise levels in trains on the Western Railway between Churchgate and Virar. It found an increase when announcements were made. Noise levels ranged from 66dB to 75dB when the train was stationary, and reached 90 dB when crossing other trains at a high speed. 
With commuters exposed to noise levels for approximately three hours during their daily commute, the report read, “Noise from announcements is louder when moving towards north Mumbai. Long distance trains cross North Mumbai locations at a high speed, often honking continuously at decibel levels nearing 100 dB.”


Copyright © HT Media Limited All rights reserved.

CR’s new trains have made your commute noisier: Study
Report by Awaaz Foundation says loudspeakers which make announcements about each station are to blameMUMBAI Updated: Mar 23, 2017 23:20 IST
Snehal Fernandes 
Hindustan Times
The preliminary report found that many of the announcements were non-essential and frequent, with loudspeakers in use even when the train had reached the platform.(HT File Photo)
New local trains have made your daily commute noisier. Preliminary findings by non-government organisation Awaaz Foundation found that noise levels inside new Central Railway trains, which have loudspeakers, almost matched those of the old trains, inside which announcements were not made.
When the loudspeakers on new trains, which ply between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Sewri, made announcements about upcoming stations in English, Hindi and Marathi, noise levels reached 88.8 decibels (dB). Noise levels in old trains were anywhere between 82dB and 88.4dB. The new trains have lower background noise levels, which include commuters talking and movement of trains. This ranges from 72.8dB to 74.2dB. The screeching sound a train makes when it breaks makes the maximum noise(100.6dB).
The preliminary report found that many of the announcements were non-essential and frequent, with loudspeakers in use even when the train had reached the platform. “Commuting is a large part of people’s lives, one they spend hours on. There is a restriction on how much noise people should be exposed to for health reasons. While there are a number of other problems such as overcrowding, extra noise definitely adds to commuters’ stress,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation. 
Studies have shown that diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, hearing loss and mental illness are all impacts of noise pollution. High noise levels also cause sleep disturbances and adversely affect work productivity.
“Why do we need loudspeakers in the train? A silent airport made fliers’ lives so much better,” said Abdulali. “About 90% of commuters are regulars who do not need to be told which station is coming up. For those who don’t, such as foreigners, commuters are very helpful.”
Chief public relations officer for Central Railway, Narendra Patil, called the preliminary findings “far-fetched”. “There are many commuters who are not regulars. The announcements alert them about upcoming stations and are much-appreciated . Noise levels from loudspeaker announcements are lower than noise levels of commuters talking or other trains passing by,” he said.
Abdulali plans to write to railway minister Suresh Prabhu. “Railways need to look at solutions to reduce overall noise. A simple method would be to stop unnecessary additional noise,” said Abdulali. “Even if the announcements are not that loud, they are still disturbing as they are artificial sounds. The yelling of commuters is still a natural sound,” she said.
Last year, Awaaz Foundation had recorded noise levels in trains on the Western Railway between Churchgate and Virar. It found an increase when announcements were made. Noise levels ranged from 66dB to 75dB when the train was stationary, and reached 90 dB when crossing other trains at a high speed. 
With commuters exposed to noise levels for approximately three hours during their daily commute, the report read, “Noise from announcements is louder when moving towards north Mumbai. Long distance trains cross North Mumbai locations at a high speed, often honking continuously at decibel levels nearing 100 dB.”


Copyright © HT Media Limited All rights reserved.

IMA backs Safe Sound Zones, Health Impact studies in Industrial Cities
​March 15, 2017


New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has asked the government to make Health Impact Assessment mandatory for giving clearance to new industrial and smart cities coming up across India under the ambitious infrastructure projects.
A national conference on Safe Sound Initiative of the IMA, which represents more than 2 lakh doctors, also strongly recommended creation of Safe Sound Zones in these cities in view of the alarming increase in physical and mental health issues, especially among youngsters, due to overexposure to high decibel sounds.
Dr R N Tandon, Honorary Secretary General, IMA, announced that a delegation of medical experts will soon meet the government to put forward their suggestions on tackling noise pollution in industrial clusters and smart cities.
He was speaking at the second national conference on the Safe Sound Initiative where around 80 state representatives of the IMA discussed strategies to roll out the campaign at the state levels.
The conference expressed concern over the increase in incidence of tinnitus (humming sound in the ears) among young people because of prolonged use of gadgets like earphones, headphones and mobile phones, increasing risk of thermal and high-frequency hearing loss.
“Noise is the number one reason for permanent deafness. It causes mental health issues, aggravates conditions such as allergies and asthma, even autoimmune diseases and deadly lifestyle illnesses such as diabetes, cardiac problems and cancer,” says Dr. C John Panicker, an ENT Surgeon and National Coordinator of the IMA Safe Sound Initiative. “The unfortunate part is that there is very little awareness currently about how deadly noise pollution can be, even among doctors.”
Padma Shri Dr K K Aggarwal, National President of IMA, called for a graded plan of action to tackle noise. There are already guidelines on permissible noise levels: for eg. 70-75db in Industrial Zones, 60-65db in commercial, 45-55db in Residential and 40-50 db in Silent Zones that must exist 100 metres around schools. He said regulations were needed to specify what action can be taken when the sound levels exceed the safety norms.
Justice Anil R Dave, former justice of the Supreme Court, who inaugurated the conference, said that the courts in India have, on several occasions, intervened to set limits on noise, but these often falter at the implementation stage owing to several reasons, principally sensitivity around religious issues.
He said the noise pollution also needs to be tackled as a social problem and children need to be educated early on to “hate noise and enjoy silence”.
Other speakers at the conference included former IMA President Dr Marthanda Pillai; NISS Convenor Dr C N Raja; Dr. Ajay Lekhi, Organising Chairman; Dr Rajiv Sood of RML Hospital; Dr Girish Tyagi, Registrar, Delhi Medical Council; Dr V D Pradeep Kumar and Ms Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaaz Foundation Mumbai, which is partnering the IMA on the Safe Sound.