A STUDY ON NOISE POLLUTION AT STONE QUARRYING INDUSTRY NEAR DHARWAD.

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ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 5(8), 1002-1005
1002
Journal Homepage: - www.journalijar.com
Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/5148
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/5148
RESEARCH ARTICLE
A STUDY ON NOISE POLLUTION AT STONE QUARRYING INDUSTRY NEAR DHARWAD.
Sunita Hebbal and *G. G. Kadadevaru.
Department of Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad,Karnataka, India.
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Manuscript Info Abstract
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Manuscript History
Received: 12 June 2017
Final Accepted: 14 July 2017
Published: August 2017
Key words:-
Stone quarry, crushing , Noise pollution,
Blasting.
Noise pollution has been recognized worldwide as an environmental
problem that has wide spread consequences on health and well being of
human beings. Unfortunately, we are not doing enough to curb this
menace. The present work documents the noise pollution levels at stone
crushing unit near Dharwad. The noise levels were recorded at two
different processes related to the stone crushing activity. The noise
levels during blasting process ranged between 102.8± 2.6db and 130.4±
4.6dB. During crushing process the noise ranged from 97db to 116.2
dB. The sound level measurements suggest that there are areas that are
noisy and could subject workers to overexposure to noise. All workers
should be made aware of the sound levels around all equipment and in
the processing plants and be instructed to utilize hearing protection
devices.
Copy Right, IJAR, 2017,. All rights reserved.
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Introduction:-
The word „noise‟ is derived from the Latin term „nausea‟. It has been defined as “unwanted sound that is dumped
into the environment”. Noise pollution has attracted much attention due to the increased awareness of its effect on
human and animal health. Apart from affecting living beings, noise also adversely affects inanimate beings like
buildings, heritage monuments etc.
Noise pollution one of the main pollution of the environment causing various hazardous consequences for human
life. Noise not only impairs sensibility to auditory stimuli by masking effects, it has other consequence too. Studies
have proved that a loud noise during peak hours creates tiredness, irritation and impairs brain activities, so as to
reduce thinking and working abilities. Its general effects on human being are that, it covers disturbance in sleep
which lead to other side effects
Based on its origin, noise pollution can be divided into two categories viz., Natural and man-made. Natural sources
of noise include air, volcanic eruptions, seas, rivers and thunder etc. Man made noise can be chiefly attributed to
machines and modern equipment of various types including automobiles, trains, aeroplanes, explosives, firecrackers
and others. Noise affects human life in many ways. It influences sleep, hearing, mental and physical health and
communication. Irrespective of the source, noise is a pollutant and besides its contribution to stress levels, impaired
hearing, and other body dysfunctions are yet to be fully understood. Noise can cause deafness. Some empirical
research conducted on pregnant female mice reveals that air craft taking off which bring 120 to 160 dB caused
miscarriages in them (Baldwin,2007), if the findings on mice are made applicable on human being. The effect of
these categories includes, annoyance, tensions in muscles, nervous irritability and strain. The physiological features
like - breathing amplitude, blood pressure, heart-beat rate, pulse rate, blood cholesterol are affected, behavioural
Corresponding Author:- G. G. Kadadevaru.
Address:- Department of Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad ,Karnataka, India

ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 5(8), 1002-1005
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changes also seen. It has been reported that performance of school going children is poor in comprehension, when
schools are in the busy traffic area. Noise can cause irritation, which results in learning disabilities. Mining is one
sector that has received less attention. Studies involving the monitoring of worker noise exposures, characterizing
equipment sound levels and dominant noise sources, evaluating engineering noise controls, analyzing hearing
protection device (HPD) effectiveness, and testing of improved sound level monitoring techniques specifically for
mining systems, are being conducted Bauer., and Babich (, 2006). However, in India such studies are limited. The
present work is an attempt to report the noise pollution levels at stone quarrying industry at Kadankoppa near
Dharwad.
Materials And Methods:-
A stone crushing unit located near Kadankoppa village in Kalaghatagi taluk of Dharwad district ( 15015‟24.8‟‟ N,
75001‟60.0‟E) was selected to record the noise pollution study (PLATE-I). Periodic noise levels were recorded in
this stations. In the initial stage preliminary observations were carried out to note the peak time slots during day time
when noise levels are high. The sound levels were recorded using TES1350 (A) Sound Level Meter (SLM) The
recoding were made by holding the SLM at a distance of 20 mts from the blasting crushing unit. Recoding were
made for a minimum of 30 minutes to maximum of 90 minute duration at a slot of five to ten minutes interval.
Recording of blasting activity was noted regularly for a period of 10 days. The noise levels of crushing unit was
made on the last day of observation at the peak crushing hours.
Plate I:- Kadanakoppa crushing unit

ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 5(8), 1002-1005
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Table 1:- Noise levels at Crushing unit during blasting activity.
S. No
Date
Average Noise level Noise (dB)
1
30-10-2014
113.8 ± 3 26
2
31-10-2014
102.8± 2.6
3
01-11-2014
120.7± 2.6
4
02-11-2014
110.4± 1.8
5
03-11-2014
109.4± 2.2
6
04-11-2014
113.6± 3.8
7
05-11-2014
118.3± 2.7
8
06-11-2014
130.4± 4.6
9
07-11-2014
119.7± 3.4
10
08-11-2014
120.7± 2.4
Mean (SD)
115.67 ± 7.6
Table 2:- Noise levels at Stone Crushing unit at 8th Nov, 2014.
S. No
Time
Noise (dB)
1
12:05
97.5
2
12:10
97
3
12:15
98.7
4
12:20
99.7
5
12:25
98.1
6
12:30
100.4
7
12:35
102.8
8
12:40
114.6
9
12:45
101
10
12:50
112.7
11
12:55
116.2
12
01:00
108.2
13
01:05
105
14
01:10
102.9
Mean (SD)
103.9 ± 6.5
Figure 1:- Noise levels at Crushing unit at the time of Blasting activity, Kadankoppa.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Noise(dB)
Date of Recording

ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 5(8), 1002-1005
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Figure 2:- Noise levels at Crushing unit at Crushing unit, Kadankoppa
Result and Discussion:-
In this industry the noise is produced during blasting activity and crushing activity. The readings were taken during
different processes of 1) Blasting activities. 2) Crushing activity. The noise levels during blasting activities were
recorded for 10 days (Table-1 figure1) the noise levels ranged between 102.8 and 130.8 dB (Figure- 1). The noise
levels were also recorded during crushing activities. The reading ranged between 97.0 and 116.2dB (Table-2, Fig-2).
The Noise levels at stone crushing unit was high particularly during blasting activities where it sometimes reached
as high as 130.4 dB and crushing unit has the maximum of 116.2dB. Naik et al (2007) reported high levels of
noise with a range of 133dB to 156dB during blasting process at a stone crushing unit situated in Bangalore district.
The average noise levels during crushing activity was 115.67 ± 7.6 similar levels of noise was reported by Naik et
al (2007). Farzana et al (2014) from Bangladesh reported maximum noise level at shrimonto and R.M. stone crusher
are 91 dBA and 102 dBA respectively at nearest point from crushing machine which are less than the present
observation. Continuous exposure to such high noise may cause health problem to the people living in that area.
Since there is no medicine to cure hearing loss, prevention to overt exposure is the only alternative left. Noise in the
stone quarrying industry is regarded as a major annoyance and may lead to hearing loss and perhaps even cause
adverse physiological and psychological effect. The sound level measurements suggest that there are areas that are
noisy and could subject workers to overexposure to noise. All workers should be made aware of the sound levels
around all equipment and in the processing plants and be instructed to utilize hearing protection devices.
Acknowledgements:-
Authors thank Chairman Department of Zoology Karnatak University, Dharwad for the facilities. Special thanks to
Mr Harsha Neelgund and Sudeep Kairanna, for their assistance in preparation of the manuscript.
References:-
1. Baldwin, A. L. (2007). Effects of noise on rodent physiology. International Journal of Comparative
Psychology, , 134-144.
2. Bauer, E.R., and Babich, D.R.(, 2006), “Limestone mining: Is it noisy or not?” Mining Engineering, Vol. 58,
No. 10, October, pp. 37-42.
3. Farzana1, S Z, A.H Nury., B Biswa and A Das (2014) A study on noise pollution of stone crusher machine at
Jaflong, Sylhet “Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Environmental Aspects of Bangladesh” ICEAB
4. Paramesha Naik, D., Ushamalini, Somashekar, R.K (2007). Noise Pollution in Stone Quarrying Industry –A
case study in Bangalore District, Karnataka, India Jr of Ind Pol Col 23 (1): 43 - 48
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
Noise (dB)
Time of recording
Noise levels at a Crushing unit, Kadanakoppa