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Assessment of noise exposure and associated health risk in school environment

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Abstract

Noise exposure has become one of the most important factors in determining the quality of life in indoor environments. This paper assesses and analyzes noise exposure levels at school and preschool classrooms with different indoor environments. The sound level [A-weighting equivalent steady sound level L Aeq (dBA)] was measured using a CEL-63× digital sound level meter. The noise level measurements were performed inside two preschools at three classrooms (an activity room, classroom KG1 and classroom KG2) and three schools at different classrooms, starting from grade 1 to grade 12. The logarithmic average noise levels (L Aeq avg) and the 8-h average noise exposure level (L EX, 8-h) were estimated for each classroom. Furthermore, health risk issues associated with the exposure to high noise levels were investigated using a questionnaire and an interview with more than 250 teachers at the preschools and the schools. Then, the results were analyzed using different statistical tools and were compared with the World Health Organization, Occupational Health and Safety and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health standards. Also, the results were compared with those from different countries worldwide. The study results show that the 8-h average noise exposure level exceeded the allowable limits in some schools, which indicates that students and teachers can face a serious health effects from noise exposure. The comparisons show that the values of noise levels in Kuwait are higher than those in different countries. The maximum value of noise levels was found in secondary schools. The health problems found during the survey are potentially associated with issues related to hearing, voice, headache and the physiological function of teachers.

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out with funding from Kuwait University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Pollution and Climate Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, PO Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait

    M. F. Yassin & M. S. Al Rashidi

  2. Department of Civil and environmental engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada

    H. Almutairi

  3. Department of Environmental Technology Management, College for Life Science, Kuwait University, PO Box 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait

    N. Alhajeri

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University, PO Box 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait

    F. Al-Fadhli

  5. Communication Disorders Science, College for Life Science, Kuwait University, PO Box 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait

    T. Shatti

  6. Crisis Decision Support Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), PO Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait

    M. S. Al Rashidi

Authors
  1. M. F. Yassin
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  2. H. Almutairi
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  3. N. Alhajeri
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  4. F. Al-Fadhli
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  5. M. S. Al Rashidi
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  6. T. Shatti
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Correspondence to M. F. Yassin.

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Appendices

Abbreviations

dBA:

A-weighting equivalent steady sound level L Aeq

KG:

Kindergarten

WHO:

World Health Organization

OHS:

Occupational Health and Safety

NIOSH:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

List of symbols

L Aeq avg :

Logarithmic average noise levels

L EX, 8-h :

Eight-hour average noise exposure level

X i :

Equivalent steady sound level (L Aeq) in dBA

n :

Total number of measurements in the class room

α :

Cronbach’s alpha

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Yassin, M.F., Almutairi, H., Alhajeri, N. et al. Assessment of noise exposure and associated health risk in school environment. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 13, 2011–2024 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-1035-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-1035-y

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