It is learnt that rave parties are going on in full swing in coastal Anjuna with music booming throughout the night much to the annoyance of the residents. Just like air pollution, water pollution and other types of pollution, noise pollution too can have a negative impact on one’s health. The most common health problem it causes is ‘Noise-Induced Hearing Loss’ (NIHL). Exposure to loud noise can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances and stress. The most common instrument used to measure noise is a ‘Noise Level Meter’. Noise meters function using the connected microphone to detect any air pressure variations associated with sound. The meter converts these variations into electrical signals and then into a decibel reading which is displayed on an LCD screen. Such meters could even be connected to a siren which gets activated if the loudness of the sound crosses a certain threshold. One cannot expect the authorities concerned to keep a constant watch throughout the night on those playing loud music. The volume could be increased once the police turn their backs. Hence it seems prudent to install such meters to measure the level of loudness of music at all times.
