ASSESSMENT OF NOISE EMISSIONS IN PUBLIC MARKET AND RELATED ACOUSTIC EFFECT

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to assess noise emissions in the public markets and related acoustic effects in Benin City, Nigeria. The noise levels were measured in the morning and afternoon at randomly selected six markets using a calibrated sound level meter (Digital sound level meter AS824). A cross-sectional study was also conducted among sixty respondents using a well-structured questionnaire across the sampling sites. The results showed that the recorded noise level in the morning and afternoon ranged between 78.9 - 94.5dB and 85.2 and 94.5dB respectively. The noise values were significantly higher (t = -7.986, p = 0.00) in the afternoon. The noise levels were above the WHO permissible limits in some of the sampling locations. The percentage occurrence of self-reported health effects includes hearing difficulties (61.7 %), annoyance (75%), high blood pressure(23%), irritation (72 %), stress (31.7 %), and sleeplessness (58.3 %). The reported noise-induced health effects were associated with the age of the workers, duration of noise exposure and perceived noise sources in the study area. There was also a significant association between noiseinduced effects and cases of reported annoyance ( 2 = 6.629, p = 0.042), and Stress ( 2= 8.381, p =0.015) and Stress ( 2= 6.656, p =0.036). The implementation of correct wearing of earplugs among workers and the creation of awareness on noiseinduced health effects, Proper layout planning of the market to ensure ease of movement of goods and people within the market space should be considered and this would help in protecting exposed workers in the study area.