Fig 1: Wind Turbines at a distance, From: https://wall.alphacoders.com/by_sub_category.php?id=201421&name=Wind+Turbine+Wallpapers&filter=4K+Ultra+HD

 

While preparing for a presentation on green energy, I came across an article that mentioned how wind turbines are potential sources of noise pollution. For background, wind turbines are large structures found on land or offshore spaces where the wind is conveniently accessible and present (fig 1). Through the medium of wind, the rotor blades of wind turbines spin, generating electricity (National Geographic, n.d.). Although sustainable in developing clean energy, it has potential issues regarding noise pollution on wildlife.

According to Teff-Seker et al. (2022), low-frequency noise generated by wind turbines can affect the natural acoustic environment, thereby influencing wildlife behaviours. Such noises can be in the form of mechanical noise during maintenance, and aerodynamic noise produced by wind passing through turbines. It was found that noise from wind turbines can cause changes in species’ demography, composition and habitation. This is more so towards avian species as compared to terrestrial animals. The article also mentioned that the aspect of noise pollution from wind turbines is often disregarded during Environment Impact Assessments (EIA). This would lead to greater environmental disruption to the local wildlife where wind turbines are situated at (Teff-Seker et al., 2022). Therefore, the paper brought attention to the need for greater planned regulations to reduce wind turbine noises on wildlife through a more inclusive EIA to noise pollution. As a relatively limited researched topic, more is also needed to better understand the effects of wind turbine noises on wildlife.

 

Reference

Teff-Seker, Y., Berger-Tal, O., Lehnardt, Y., & Teschner, N. (2022). Noise pollution from wind turbines and its effects on wildlife: A cross-national analysis of current policies and planning regulations. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 168, 112801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112801

Wind Energy. (n.d.). https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wind-energy/

Fig 1: Cartoon about snoring. From “Snoring: Is it my blocked nose or Something Worse”, https://www.drannabelle.com/blog/snoring-is-it-my-blocked-nose-or-something-worse/

 

I have always shared the same room with my brother growing up since when I was young. Apart from hanging out, talking and spending time with one another, we do also share the same sleeping space in the form of a double-decker bed. Recently, maybe due to the stress in life, he has been snoring more loudly and more frequently than ever before, disrupting my sleep cycle. This has left me with lesser productive rests in the past few months. Today, the blog will aim to cover snoring regarding noise pollution.

A paper by Sowho et al. (2020) has looked at whether snoring can be classified as noise pollution, thereby exploring how then it can affect bed partners’ (or siblings) health and quality of rest. The paper also investigates obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with the frequency and intensity of snoring.

Based on the study, it was discovered that people who experience OSA have a generally higher likelihood and intensity of snoring. No significance was found based on gender on the likelihood of snoring. It was also found that 12% of people sampled snored at levels exceeding the level for nocturnal noise pollution, at the sound level of above 53dB (Sowho et al., 2020). Such noise levels and intensity have the potential to increase the risk of adverse health effects like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular ones, apart from a disrupted sleep cycle (Dutchen, 2022). Hence, this article challenges the view that noise pollution should only be viewed on a larger scale, but it can also take place in places as small and confined as your own bedroom.

 

Reference

Snoring and Blocked nose | ENT Specialist Singapore. (n.d.). https://www.drannabelle.com/blog/snoring-is-it-my-blocked-nose-or-something-worse/

Sowho, M., Sgambati, F. P., Guzman, M. A., Schneider, H., & Schwartz, A. (2020). Snoring: a source of noise pollution and sleep apnea predictor. Sleep, 43(6). https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsz305

The Effects of Noise on Health. (2022). Harvard Medicine Magazine. https://hms.harvard.edu/magazine/viral-world/effects-noise-health#:~:text=They’ve%20shown%20that%20noise,attention%20deficits%3B%20childhood%20learning%20delays%3B

 

 

Fig 1: Black Rhino and her calf, Ol Pejeta

 

 

After spending 10-11 days in beautiful Kenya, it is time for another blog post about noise pollution. Not surprisingly, I would like to talk about noise pollution in Kenya itself. As mentioned previously, noise pollution has been known to affect people and animals (or wildlife) in terms of the stress levels caused and behaviour. To understand how much noise can affect people and wildlife, noise pollution mapping can be one of the ways to comprehend its effects.

A study done by  Wawa & Mulaku (2015) created a noise level map based in urban Nairobi, the Capital of Kenya. Through the study, it was found that noise intensity increases from the west to the east of Nairobi, where such noise is produced by traffic and industrial activities. Noise levels range from 61db in the west to a certain high of 78db in certain hotspots at eastern Nairobi. Despite being the first noise map of Kenya, the move would be of great help in facilitating noise level control, especially following Regulation 3(2) of the EMCA (Environmental Management and Coordination Act).

However, more needs to be done concerning managing noise levels in wildlife and natural areas. From my trip to Kenya, tourism and its relevant activities can also cause noise pollution in the form of traffic via game drives and even camping. The novel use of noise maps in natural areas like national parks and conservancies can allow better management of noise to protect the precious wildlife Kenya has to offer. Hence, more research is needed to understand noise levels in Kenya’s wild areas to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of noise on people and wildlife.

 

 

 

Reference

Wawa, E. A., & Mulaku, G. C. (2015). Noise Pollution Mapping Using GIS in Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Geographic Information System, 07(05), 486–493. https://doi.org/10.4236/jgis.2015.75039