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Noise pollution in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR): An emerging environmental threat

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 192, Article number: 152 (2020) Cite this article

Abstract

Noise pollution in urban areas is an emerging environmental threat which local agencies and state authorities must consider in planning and development. Excessive noise is becoming a significant problem adversely affecting the physiological and psychological health of the citizens. Present study was carried out to assess and quantitatively evaluate ambient noise levels in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) consisting of 9 cities namely Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Thane, Ulhasnagar and Vasai-Virar. The noise environment was assessed on the basis of equivalent continuous sound pressure levels (Leq), day-night noise levels (LDN) and noise limit exceedance factor (NEF) during day and night time of working and non-working days in four different area categories, viz. industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones. Present study shows that silence zones have been the worst affected areas where noise pollution levels and NEF indicate excessive violation of permissible noise limits due to unplanned, congested and unruly spaces for developmental and commercial activities, followed closely by residential and commercial zones. Cities with separate industrial and commercial zones showed less noisy surroundings in comparison with those cities where land use pattern of industrial and commercial zones is around or overlapping each other. It can thus be concluded that appropriate demarcation and planned use of city space is important to avoid exposure to rising noise pollution levels. Based on the noise pollution in (MMR), various control measures are suggested including awareness campaign and strict compliance of the rules and regulations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute for providing the necessary infrastructure support and permission to publish this research.

Funding

The authors are also thankful to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for providing financial support to carry out this study.

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  1. CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440020, India

    Komal Kalawapudi, Taruna Singh, Jaydip Dey, Ritesh Vijay & Rakesh Kumar

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  1. Komal Kalawapudi
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  2. Taruna Singh
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  3. Jaydip Dey
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  4. Ritesh Vijay
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  5. Rakesh Kumar
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Correspondence to Ritesh Vijay.

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Kalawapudi, K., Singh, T., Dey, J. et al. Noise pollution in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR): An emerging environmental threat. Environ Monit Assess 192, 152 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8121-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8121-9

Keywords

  • Noise pollution
  • Noise monitoring
  • Mumbai Metropolitan Region
  • Day-night noise levels (LDN)
  • Noise limit exceedance factor (NEF)