Hearing loss and tinnitus are just two potential hazards of noise pollution By Natalie Pless, Special to California Asphalt
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sphalt facilities and road construction sites are known for the noise pollution they seem to create; however, both work sites are necessary for the production and maintenance of roads we drive on. Both asphalt facilities and road construction sites can produce noise pollution from the many different tasks and machinery associated with them; however, if the equipment is utilized properly and is continuously maintained, some of the noise may be eliminated. The Environmental Pollution Center defines noise pollution as “regular exposure to elevated sound levels that may lead to adverse effects in humans or other living organisms.” High noise levels can affect both workers and the community, so it is crucial to understand what noise pollution is, where is comes from, how it effects people, as well as preventative measures to protect one’s health. Asphalt facilities have many different moving parts that can cause high levels of noise such as constant conveyor usage, dryer, blower, exhaust fan, drag slat, mobile equipment, etc. However, if each of these components are maintained and proper controls are in place, noise levels should be below harmful levels. Controls such as containment walls to create a sound barrier, replacing faulty equipment with upgrades to reduce noise, or insulation can aid in reduction of noise levels. Paving Construction tasks involve multiple pieces of equipment creating noise levels that have proven to be harmful to the persons around it. Below is a list from the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Journal that contains different machinery utilized and the time weighted average (TWA) in decibels (dBs) relating to the equipment associated with paving: 18
• Heavy-duty bulldozer – TWA 99 dBs – Range 91 – 107 dBs • Vibrating road roller – TWA 97 dBs – Range 91–104 dBs • Light-duty bulldozer – TWA 96 dBs – Range 93–101 dBs • Asphalt road roller – TWA 95 dBs – Range 85–103 dBs • Wheel loader – TWA 94 dBs – Range 87–100 dBs • Asphalt spreader – TWA 91 dBs – Range 87–97 dBs • Light-duty grader – TWA 89 dBs – Range 88–91 dBs • Laborers – TWA 90 dBs – Range 78–107 dBs Some of the tasks associated with the equipment listed above are not preformed constantly but may still be above regulated levels. Noise pollution begins with being exposed to 85 decibels (dBs) of noise for an 8-hour period. Once noise reaches 90dBs, even for a short duration, personal protection equipment (PPE) such as hearing protection is required. This can be from working in or next to a noisy area, or living within proximity of a noisy worksite. In order to ensure noise levels are not creating noise pollution or health concerns, companies should utilize professionals to examine and evaluate the noise. Professionals evaluating an area for noise pollution will use a sound level meter or dosimeters to see if the level of noise are exceeds the Occupational Safety and Health Association’s (OSHA) regulations. Sound is a valuable part of everyday life, but once sound
increases and becomes hazardous noise, it can negatively affect a person’s health. According to OSHA, exposure to high levels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss. Neither surgery nor a hearing aid can help correct certain types of hearing loss. Short term exposure to loud noise can also cause a temporary change in hearing (your ears may feel stuffed up) or a ringing in your ears (tinnitus). These short-term problems may go away within a few minutes or hours after leaving the noisy area. However, repeated exposures to loud noise can lead to permanent tinnitus and/or hearing loss. Hearing impairment isn’t the only health concern noise pollution can create; below are illnesses and impairments high noise levels may cause as listed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI): • Speech Communication — Noise interference with speech comprehension results in many personal disabilities, handicaps, and behavioral changes. Resulting problems may include difficulty maintaining concentration, fatigue, uncertainty and lack of self-confidence, irritation, misunderstandings, decreased working capacity, issues in human relations, and several stress reactions. • Sleep Disturbances — The primary sleep disturbance effects are: difficulty in falling asleep; awakenings; alterations of sleep stages or depth, especially a reduction in the proportion of REM-sleep; increased blood pressure; increased heart rate; increased finger pulse amplitude; vasoconstriction; changes in respiration; cardiac arrhythmia;
California Asphalt Magazine • 2020 Environmental Issue
