adminaccess to a mobile phone and having such a device will greatly help in the educational process and thereby reduce the worrying levels noise pollution is now assuming”, the programme officer of the EPA, Emmanuel Appoh, told CAJ News in Accra.
When the device is introduced next month, individuals will be able to detect when they or their neighbours have exceeded the permissible noise level in their community.
The measure has become necessary because noise levels above 90 decibels (unit for measuring noise) could lead to loss of hearing, he explained.
According to him, research has also proved that high noise levels could cause high blood pressure, low intelligent quotient, some cardiovascular diseases and miscarriages.
The software for checking noise levels is being tried by selected people, particularly staff of the EPA and other operatives assigned to check noise levels in the country, he revealed.
Meter
At the moment, noise levels are determined by a device known as the sound levels meter.
The executive director of the EPA, Daniel S. Amlalo, also added that the move was part of efforts being adopted by the EPA to help reduce noise pollution, which is gradually becoming a phenomenon in the country.
Even though EPA had developed permissible ambient noise level guidelines to regulate the level of noise within the environment, many people were still ignorant of those guidelines, hence the move to bring them closer to everyone.
Appoh said many people were ignorant of the devastating effects of noise pollution, hence the need to make its control and possible eradication everyone’s responsibility.
He revealed that the steps taken by the EPA had created some awareness and also increased the number of complaints received by the agency, as well as the various district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies. — CAJ News.
Online Reporter