University of Louisville
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Environmental Science
Minor
Arabic
Institution
University of Louisville
KY House District #
3
KY Senate District #
26
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. Ray Yeager
Department
Department of Public Health
Abstract
Noise pollution is a growing concern in the environmental health community. Unlike other common exposures, such as air and water pollution, noise is uniquely difficult for an individual to protect themselves from. Studies have shown multiple adverse health outcomes resulting from exposure to noise pollution, including hearing impairment, negative social behavior and annoyance, sleep disturbance, along with a strong association between noise pollution and high cardiovascular risk. It is important, then, to look for solutions to this exposure. This study is designed to assess the effects of a tree barrier in reducing traffic noise. Noise monitoring was conducted at Saint Margaret Mary Catholic School over a 24-hour period, 21:00 on July 22 – 21:00 on July 23, using four monitors to track sound levels in eight different locations, both behind a vegetative buffer and not. The vegetative buffer was composed of full-size trees and greenery, standing between a portion of the catholic school and Shelbyville Road. Sound levels were collected in decibels (dB) every second and averaged by hour over the 24-hour monitoring period, then averaged together once again per monitor location to produce a 24-hour sound level average. The sound levels measured from locations behind the buffer versus without any buffer indicate that the presence of the buffer slightly lowered sound levels in a very consistent manner. Those locations behind the buffer recorded an LASeq of approximately 2 dB lower than that of locations without any buffer from the road. This study is an important step in addressing the public health issue of noise pollution.
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Environmental Health Commons, Environmental Public Health Commons, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons
The Effect of a Vegetation Buffer on Sound Levels
Noise pollution is a growing concern in the environmental health community. Unlike other common exposures, such as air and water pollution, noise is uniquely difficult for an individual to protect themselves from. Studies have shown multiple adverse health outcomes resulting from exposure to noise pollution, including hearing impairment, negative social behavior and annoyance, sleep disturbance, along with a strong association between noise pollution and high cardiovascular risk. It is important, then, to look for solutions to this exposure. This study is designed to assess the effects of a tree barrier in reducing traffic noise. Noise monitoring was conducted at Saint Margaret Mary Catholic School over a 24-hour period, 21:00 on July 22 – 21:00 on July 23, using four monitors to track sound levels in eight different locations, both behind a vegetative buffer and not. The vegetative buffer was composed of full-size trees and greenery, standing between a portion of the catholic school and Shelbyville Road. Sound levels were collected in decibels (dB) every second and averaged by hour over the 24-hour monitoring period, then averaged together once again per monitor location to produce a 24-hour sound level average. The sound levels measured from locations behind the buffer versus without any buffer indicate that the presence of the buffer slightly lowered sound levels in a very consistent manner. Those locations behind the buffer recorded an LASeq of approximately 2 dB lower than that of locations without any buffer from the road. This study is an important step in addressing the public health issue of noise pollution.