Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Exposure of road users to the traffic noise in urban environment: insights from a mega metropolitan city

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An increase in urban traffic especially in developing countries like Pakistan has led to huge noise chaos on the major arterials with a lack of facilities to manage it. Such harmful excessive noise from road traffic creates a direct impact on the daily commuters and can have severe health consequences such as hearing loss, stress, and heart disease. Despite the alarming situation discussed above, research on the aforementioned topic in the developing world is limited. This paper for the first time measures the traffic noise experienced by four road user groups which include: (1) car drivers with open windows, (2) car drivers with closed windows, (3) motorbike riders with helmets, and (4) motorbike riders without helmets. The noise level experienced by these four road user groups was measured by travelling on one of the major routes (i.e. Saddar to 4K Chowrangi via Rashid Minhas Road) in Karachi (Pakistan) with four different devices. The highest noise level was 110 dBA obtained from non-helmeted bike riders while the closed-window car users received the least level of 49.8 dBA. Furthermore, there was no significant difference observed in the noise for helmet and non-helmet users. Therefore, there is a need to improve the design of helmets for reducing noise impact. The analysis of variance test performed also shows that the noise experienced by the motorcyclist is significantly higher than that of commuters in cars.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

References

  • Abbas G (2022) Pakistan finally develops standard for motorcycle helmets. Pakistan Today, 21 July 2022

  • Ahmadi O, Dianat I (2019) Qualitative aspects of traffic noise in Tabriz city, Iran: effects, habituation, and possible improvements. Int J Environ Sci Technol 16:2009–2016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed A, Ukkusuri SV, Mirza SR, Hassan A (2019) Width-based cell transmission model for heterogeneous and undisciplined traffic streams. Transp Res Rec 2673:682–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akhtar N, Ahmad K, Gangopadhyay S (2012) Road traffic noise mapping and a case study for Delhi region. Int J Appl Eng Technol 2(4):39–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Alam P, Ahmad K, Afsar SS, Akhtar N (2020) Noise monitoring, mapping, and modelling studies—a review. J Ecol Eng 21

  • Alves Filho JM, Lenzi A, Zannin PHT (2004) Effects of traffic composition on road noise: a case study. Transp Res Part D Transp Environ 9:75–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ansari U (2015) Is it time to say goodbye to the Suzuki Mehran? Dawn News, 27 Nov 2015

  • Anund A, Lahti E, Fors C, Genell A (2015) The effect of low-frequency road noise on driver sleepiness and performance. PLoS One 10:E0123835

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bank W (2018) Transforming Karachi into a livable and competitive megacity: a city diagnostic and transformation strategy, The World Bank

  • Batterman S, Warner SC, Xia T, Sagovac S, Roberts B, Vial B, Godwin C (2021) A community noise survey in southwest detroit and the value of supplemental metrics for truck noise. Environ Res 197:111064

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beheshti MH, Emkani M, Borhani Jebeli M, Tajpoor A, Firoozi Chahack A, Yarahmadi G, Piramoon H, Khoshehsahi S, Zobeidi N (2019) The effect of sound with different frequencies on men and women noise annoyance. J Res Health 9:355–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berglund B, Lindvall T, Schwela DH, Organization WH (1999) Guidelines for community noise

  • Dass A, Yadav A, Sanju H, Pandey D, Dutta S (2017) Impact of odd-even operation on noise pollution in Delhi: a soundmeter app based study. J Otolaryngol Ent Res 7:00209

    Google Scholar 

  • Flor D, Pena D, Pena L, De Sousa Jr VA, Martins A (2020) Characterization of noise level inside a vehicle under different conditions. Sensors 20:2471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray A (2017) These are the cities with the worst noise pollution. Available at https://www.Weforum.org/Agenda/2017/03/These-Are-The-Cities-With-The-Worst-Noise-Pollution/

  • Grubesa S, Suhanek M (2020) Traffic noise. Noise and environment. Intechopen

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer MS, Swinburn TK, Neitzel RL (2014) Environmental noise pollution in the united states: developing an effective public health response. Environ Health Perspect 122:115–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haron Z, Han LM, Darus N, Lee YL, Jahya Z, Hamid MFA, Yahya K, Shek PN (2015) A preliminary study of environmental noise in public university. Jurnal Teknologi 77

  • Hustim M, Fujimoto K (2012) Road traffic noise under heterogeneous traffic condition in Makassar City, Indonesia. J Habitat Eng Des 4:109–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahangeer SMA, Hasnain N, Tariq MT, Jamil A, Zia SY, Amir W (2021) Frequency and association of stress levels with modes of commuting among medical students of a developing country. Malays J Med Sci 28:113

    Google Scholar 

  • Keegan M (2018) Where is the world’s noisiest city? The Guardian

  • Khan M, Ahmad Y (2012) Failure of automobile manufacturing in Pakistan—a case of the revo car. Interdiscip J Contemp Res Bus 4:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan F, Ahmed A, Ahmed M, Baig MAU (2022) An Evaluation of cost optimization strategies for BRT projects in Pakistan. Eng Technol Appl Sci Res 12:8825–8830

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kou L, Tao Y, Kwan M-P, Chai Y (2020) Understanding the relationships among individual-based momentary measured noise, perceived noise, and psychological stress: a geographic ecological momentary assessment (gema) approach. Health Place 64:102285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lezhneva E, Vakulenko K, Galkin A (2019) Assessment of traffic noise pollution due to urban residential road transport. Roman J Transp Infrastruct 8:34–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin-Hua X, Ming C, Er-Da L (2013) Comprehensive evaluation of traffic noise pollution based on population exposure. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 96:2179–2186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra RK, Parida M, Rangnekar S (2010) Evaluation and analysis of traffic noise along bus rapid transit system corridor. Int J Environ Sci Technol 7:737–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monazzam MR, Karimi E, Nassiri P, Taghavi L (2015) School-reopening impact on traffic-induced noise level at different land uses: a case study. Int J Environ Sci Technol 12:3089–3094

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moroe N, Mabaso P (2022) Quantifying traffic noise pollution levels: a cross-sectional survey in South Africa. Sci Rep 12:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muralikrishna IV, Manickam V, Muralikrishna I, Manickam V (2017) Noise pollution and its control. Environ Manag 2017:399–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neitzel RL, Fligor BJ (2019) Risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to recreational sound: review and recommendations. J Acoust Soc Am 146:3911–3921

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noman SM, Ahmed A, Ali MS (2020) Comparative analysis of public transport modes available in Karachi, Pakistan. Sn Appl Sci 2:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Organization WH (2011) Burden of disease from environmental noise: quantification of healthy life years lost in Europe. World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe

    Google Scholar 

  • Organization WH (2018) Environmental noise guidelines for the European region. World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe

    Google Scholar 

  • Parris KM, Schneider A (2009) Impacts of traffic noise and traffic volume on birds of roadside habitats. Ecol Soc 14

  • Phan HYT, Yano T, Sato T, Nishimura T (2010) Characteristics of road traffic noise in Hanoi And Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. Appl Acoust 71:479–485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Triana E, Enriquez S, Afzal J, Nakagawa A, Khan AS (2014) Cleaning Pakistan’s air: policy options to address the cost of outdoor air pollution. World Bank Publications

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Stansfeld S, Haines M, Brown B (2000) Noise and health in the urban environment. Rev Environ Health 15:43–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tandel BN, Macwan J (2017) Road traffic noise exposure and hearing impairment among traffic policemen in Surat, Western India. J Inst Eng India Ser A 98:101–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tao Y, Chai Y, Kou L, Kwan M-P (2020) Understanding noise exposure, noise annoyance, and psychological stress: incorporating individual mobility and the temporality of the exposure-effect relationship. Appl Geogr 125:102283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang LK, Pereira NC, Hung Y-T (2005) Advanced air and noise pollution control. Springer

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Q, Zhang X, Cao G (2009) Study on the prevention and control measures of china’s urban road traffic noise pollution. E3S Web Of Conferences. Edp Sciences, p 03003

Download references

Funding

This research was carried out with the support of Exascale Open Data Analytics Lab, National Center for Big Data & Cloud Computing (NCBC), and funded by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urban and Infrastructure Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

    A. Ahmed & M. Ahmed

  2. Advanced Traffic Lab for Analytics & Simulation, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

    F. Khan

  3. Department of Computer and Information Systems Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

    M. A. Ismail

  4. National Institute of Transportation, National University of Sciences and Technology, Risalpur, Pakistan

    N. Ahmad

Authors
  1. A. Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. A. Ismail
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Ahmed.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: U.W. Tang.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ahmed, A., Khan, F., Ahmed, M. et al. Exposure of road users to the traffic noise in urban environment: insights from a mega metropolitan city. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 13609–13618 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-04924-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-04924-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation