Assessment of Environmental Noise Pollution in Warri and Effurun Metropolitan Cities

Abstract

Environmental noise pollution affects not only the quality of life, but it poses a serious health and social problem. The Cirrus integrating averaging sound level instrument: model CR262A was employed to determine the noise levels at the twenty-two (22) selected sampling stations. The measurement of the noise was carried out during the morning, afternoon, and evening periods, to evaluate noise pollution within the twin city.Results indicated that there is no much difference (p>0.05) in the mean noise values within the different periods of the day at each sampling station, but there is significant variation (p<0.05) in the mean noise values at each period of the day over all the sampling stations. The results of the noise measurement showed that Enerhen Junction and NNPC Complex recorded the highest and lowest overall noise values of 84.84+5.39 dB(A) and 70 .90+2.98 dB(A) respectively. The results of this survey showed that the noise values at all the measurements points within Warri and Effurun metropolitan cities and at all the periods of the day is more than the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Environment (NFMEnv) and World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit of 55dB daily noise level criteria for residential areas. The ssurvey requires the need to enact and enforce permissible noise levels/standards for residential neighbourhoods of 55dB by relevant environmental authorities both at Federal and state levels instead of applying 90dB standard meant for regulations in industrial settings.