Combatting Pollution: Noise, Light, and Emissions
Measures to Reduce Emissions
- The use of technologies with low or zero emission of waste
- Research and development programs relating to finding and implementing alternative energy sources and cleaner technologies
- Improving the quality and type of fuels
- Social measures of information
- Legislative measures
Corrective Measures
- Concentration and particle retention
- Gas cleaning systems
- The removal of pollutants through adequate chimneys
Noise Pollution
Noise is an excessive or untimely sound, unpleasant for the perceiver, which can produce physiological and psychological effects on an unwanted person or group of people.
Origin and Noise-Producing Sources
- Industry: Noise increases in direct relation to the power of the machines.
- Means of transport: Automobiles are the most important source of environmental noise.
- Building construction and public works
- Inside buildings: Noises of a private nature, which are difficult to control.
- Other sources: Important sources are individual and related to recreation and leisure, such as entertainment venues. These noises are not considered to cause nuisance, although they produce high levels of noise pollution.
Effects of Noise Pollution
- Physiological disorders: Hearing loss. Hearing ability varies from one individual to another, depending on the intensity and exposure time, and does not occur abruptly. The effect goes unnoticed for the individual by not interfering in their daily lives. The consequences can be permanent or temporary.
- Mental disorders: The most frequent mental disorders are neurosis, irritability, and stress.
- Other changes: Difficulties in oral communication, can cause accidents and force people to raise their voice, and alteration of sleep, as exposure to noise can cause difficulty falling asleep or alteration of sleep patterns.
Solutions to Address Noise Pollution
- Preventive actions: Land use planning.
- Urban planning: Geographic isolation of the noisiest activities in relation to inhabited areas.
- Urban architecture
- Environmental impact studies
- Measures involving the establishment of ordinances and regulations, fees, fines, etc.
- Using systems that pose a noise reduction at sources
- Environmental education and information
- Corrective action: Regulations drawn up by the government.
- Direct action on emission sources
- Isophones: Lines joining points whose noise levels are equal. Colors can be used in cases where the points of equal noise level are represented by a color.
Light Pollution
Light pollution is the bright glow at night or brightness produced by the diffusion and reflection of light in gases, aerosols, and particulates suspended in the atmosphere, altering the natural conditions of the night and hindering astronomical observations of celestial objects.
Forms and Sources of Light Pollution
- Intrusive light: Lighting emits light in directions that come out of the area where it is necessary and invade surrounding areas.
- Dissemination to the sky: Light interacting with particles in the air causes part of the beam to be deflected in all directions, especially toward the sky.
- Glare: When a light falls directly on the eye, hampering visibility and creating a situation of insecurity and danger.
Impacts and Solutions to Light Pollution
- Economic: Generates high overspending on energy.
- Ecological: Affects the fauna and flora at night, disrupting their life cycles, causing confusion, and hindering migration.
- Health: In human beings, it causes vision impairment and sleep disturbances.
- Science and culture: By hampering the observation of the night sky, it represents a loss of scientific, cultural, and scenic importance.
- Solutions: Improve the quality of ambient lighting, using energy-saving lamps that are well-targeted, ordinances and regulations, information campaigns, and environmental education.