Land Source (2/3): Noise pollution from industries

Today we’ll be discussing industries as a source of noise pollution. The many motors, fans, drills that are part of industrial equipment naturally produce a lot of noise. The Environmental Protection Agency has discovered in a 1981 report that more than 9 million Americans are exposed to a daily average occupational noise level above 85 dB, and around 30 million were affected in 1990 (Gerges, Sehrndt and Parthey, n.d.).

Industrial machinery and noise sources have been identified by Gerges, Sehrndt and Parthey for the World Health Organisation:

• Industrial gas jets, which are used for cleaning, drying and ejecting parts; blowing compressed air; steam valves etc. Normal sound pressures 1m away from a blow-off nozzle of an industrial jet can reach 105 dB.
• Ventilators and exhaust fans, which are used to bring fresh air into industrial settings or blowing out dust. Noise is generated from the movement of turbulent air.
• Compressors, which produce pressure pulses that produce noise.
• Electric motors, characterised by low frequency noise. These are often equipped with cooling fans, as the energy transformation from electrical to mechanical energy releases heat energy, causing a rise in temperature. The cooling fans are usually the main noise source in this equipment.
• Woodworking machines which use operations such as cutting, milling, shaping.
• Other tools such as drills, hammers, impact guns are also capable of producing noise when the machine and working surface come into contact.

Naturally, the machinery and processes that are required for industrial work will generate high levels of noise. Thus, noise limits have been established to reduce disturbance. In Singapore, there is a maximum permitted noise level in the day, evening and night time for factory premises (National Environment Agency, 2022).

As someone who lives in the heart of a residential area, I am curious about how much noise I would hear if I lived on the fringe of an industrial plot. However, community noise pollution is another source that would be prevalent in residential estates, and I look forward to discussing that with you!

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