Please don't increase noise of sirens to 120dB - Letter to Environment Minister

7th July 2017
 
Hon’ble Environment Minister Shri Ramdas Kadam,
State of Maharashtra,
Mumbai.
 
Hon’ble Environment Minister Shri Ramdas Kadam,
 
Awaaz Foundation strongly objects to the increase in decibel levels of sirens in Mumbai from 100dB to 120dB. We appeal to you, on behalf of critically ill patients using ambulances as transport to hospitals to consider the ill effects of intolerable noise levels. We also to appeal to you on behalf of other residents of Mumbai whose health would be jeopardized by such high noise levels on our streets.
 
The proposal to increase ambulance siren noise levels to 120dB is dangerous to the safety of the patient inside the ambulance and to the hospitals and other Silence Zones placed along roadsides. It is also dangerous to residents of nearby areas who may be in vulnerable situations including elderly people and children.  High noise levels would constitute a safety risk to traffic as noise affects mental health and could result in increased road rage. It would also place already vulnerable traffic police at risk of adverse health effects and jeopardize their ability to enforce traffic discipline.
 
International studies indicate that it is unsafe even for healthy people to be exposed to 120dB of sound for more than 7 seconds. It is far more dangerous for critically ill patients to be exposed to such high noise levels.
 
Noise adds to stress levels. Exposure to such dangerously high noise in rickety ambulances without any sound insulation through jammed Mumbai traffic could even result in the death of a patient struggling to receive medical care.  Doctors and nurses will not be able to communicate inside these ambulances to provide health care and the added stress can mean the difference between life and death of critically ill patients.
 
The Indian Noise Pollution Rules are based on the World Health Organization Report “Community Noise” which states that area around hospitals should be defined as Silence Zones so that patients are not exposed to noise pollution over 50 dB in the daytime and 40dB in the nighttime. An ambulance, which operates as a patient care center during transport to hospital is also in need of insulation from sound similar to a hospital. Most ambulances in Mumbai, unlike those in the U.S. do not have any sound insulation.
 
Awaaz Foundation has measured noise levels from sirens in London and Mumbai. The measurements in Mumbai were carried out along with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board in 2014 and maximum decibel level was 100dB. The measurements in London were carried out in May 2017 and maximum decibel level was 94dB.
 
Hon’ble Minister Shri Ramdas Kadam, on behalf of citizens of Mumbai who are already suffering the ill effects of high noise levels on a daily basis in our city, the noisiest in India according to a Central Pollution Control Board study, we appeal to you to consider the long term ill effects on our collective health. In particular, we request you to consider the effects of dangerously high noise levels on critically ill patients inside an ambulance on their way to hospital. We sincerely request you to withdraw this proposal immediately.
 
Thank you and with regards.
 
Sumaira Abdulali
 
Enclosed: Letter to Hon’ble Chief Minister Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis dated 23rd May 2017
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