Noise Pollution - A Case Study of Rawalpindi City, Pakistan

In this study, noise level was measured during day time in 88 different locations of the Rawalpindi city, Pakistan, which included roads, choaks, residential areas, educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, airport, bus stands, shopping plazas and markets. The noise measurements were performed with a calibrated sound level meter. Study finds that overall minimum and maximum noise levels for the main roads and choaks were 55.4 and 101.9 dB(A), for residential areas 38.80 and 91.0 dB(A), for educational institutions 60.0 and 94.4 dB(A), for hospital 45.1 and 84.4 dB(A), for railway stations, airport, bus stands 59.2 and 102.5 dB(A) and for shopping plazas, markets 53.8 and 81.2 dB(A), respectively. The result of the study revealed that the noise level surpassed the prescribed NEQS limits as well as WHO guideline values for noise in specific environments in all areas under study, which can cause harmful effects on human health, animals and the environment. Keywords: noise pollution, sound level, environment