Urban noise assessment in hospitals: measurements and mapping in the context of the city of Sorocaba, Brazil.

Noise pollution has become a public health problem in several countries worldwide. Noise maps are tools used in many cities, mainly on the European continent. In other regions, they are used in smaller areas, and few studies focus on hospital areas, considered noise-sensitive zones. In this context, this study aimed to perform sound measurements and noise maps for the day and night periods in the surroundings of three hospitals in Sorocaba, Brazil. Sound measurements occurred around the three hospitals based on NBR 10151 and ISO 1996 standards. The noise maps were drawn up using a calculation model based on ISO 9613-2. Results showed that the sound measurement points around the hospitals had levels above those recommended by the Brazilian standard for sensitive areas (LAeq 50 and 45 dB for day and night, respectively). The acoustic maps showed high sound levels on all faces of the hospital buildings, both during the day and at night. The worst scenario concerned the vicinity of the roads with the highest flow and speed of vehicles. We concluded that three different hospitals in the city have high sound levels in their surroundings above the recommended for sensitive areas.

Quality of Life and Acoustic Comfort in Educational Environments of Curitiba, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: It is believed that poor classroom acoustics leads to lower levels of student learning and exposes teachers vocal folds to greater physical wear and tear. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to compare the quality of life by World Health Organization (whoqol-bref) questionnaire of 61 teachers working at schools with different acoustic conditions. METHODS: This paper reports on a descriptive exploratory study aimed at ascertaining the following: (1) outdoor sound pressure levels in the immediate surroundings of two primary schools; (2) background noise levels inside classrooms; (3) reverberation times in classrooms; (4) the teacher's perception of noise in the work environment; (5) the teacher's vocal intensity in the classroom; and (6) the teacher's perceived quality of life. RESULTS: It was found that the quality of life of teachers, as well as the major causes of acoustic discomfort, do not stem from a source outside the classroom, halls, and physical education classes. Instead, they originate inside the classroom and are caused by students during school hours; the teachers' vocal intensity exceeds the limits of tolerability both in schools that provide acoustic comfort and in those that do not. CONCLUSIONS: The basic conditions required to ensure the health of the participants in this study during their workday were found to be unsatisfactory.

Environmental noise in hospitals: a systematic review.

Environmental noise has been growing in recent years, causing numerous health problems. Highly sensitive environments such as hospitals deserve special attention, since noise can aggravate patients' health issues and impair the performance of healthcare professionals. This work consists of a systematic review of scientific articles describing environmental noise measurements taken in hospitals between the years 2015 and 2020. The researchers started with a consultation of three databases, namely, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. The results indicate that for the most part, these studies are published in journals in the fields of medicine, engineering, environmental sciences, acoustics, and nursing and that most of their authors work in the fields of architecture, engineering, medicine, and nursing. These studies, which are concentrated in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, use as reference values sound levels recommended by the World Health Organization. Leq measured in hospital environments showed daytime values ranging from 37 to 88.6 dB (A) and nighttime values of 38.7 to 68.8 dB (A). Leq values for outdoor noise were 74.3 and 56.6 dB (A) for daytime and nighttime, respectively. The measurements were taken mainly inside hospitals, prioritizing more sensitive departments such as intensive care units. There is a potential for growth in work carried out in this area, but research should also include discussions about guidelines for improvement measures aimed at reducing noise in hospitals.

Framework to manage railway noise exposure in Brazil based on field measurements and strategic noise mapping at the local level.

Rail freight transport has grown worldwide and in Brazil as well, which increases people's exposure to railway noise. A promising tool to manage it is Strategic Noise Mapping (SNM), which has advanced around the world favoring a common and more accurate calculation method that requires more accurate measurements. This paper presents a framework to manage railway noise exposure in Brazil based on a case study carried out in the city with the longest stretches of railway tracks in urban areas. Background noise due to road traffic and train pass-by noise levels were measured for knowledge of noise sources and SNM calibration. Background noise predicted by the CNOSSOS-EU (Road) method reached an accuracy within ±2 dB(A) and was overestimated by the NMPB-96 method. The combination with railway noise using the SRM II and ISO 9613 calculation methods maintained the aforementioned accuracy, while the current best fit CNOSSOS-EU (Railway and Industry) configuration for the study area overestimated it. Although the study area is a quiet suburb, a quarter of its population is exposed to road traffic noise levels above those recommended by WHO, and more than 40% are affected by rail noise that is 5 dB(A) or higher than the background noise. The elimination of level crossings (LC) and the need to sound the train horn is more cost-effective than noise barriers. Therefore, the strategy to manage exposure to rail noise in Brazil should involve altering residential zoning of non-built-up areas next to the railways to repurpose them for other land uses and/or establish acoustic performance criteria for new buildings; federal government investing in reducing the number of LC or railway variants; and railway operators investing in the creation of an emission database for noise control at the source.

Exposure to road traffic noise: Annoyance, perception and associated factors among Brazil's adult population.

BACKGROUND: One of the major environmental problems of the modern world is noise. A health-related marker of environmental noise exposure that can be considered a predictor of annoyance is noise sensitivity. The aim of this study was to ascertain the correlation between levels of exposure to road traffic noise in residential areas and the resulting annoyance based on the perception and sensitivity reported. METHODS: The study involved noise assessment, with the creation of noise maps of the neighborhood in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and application of a questionnaire to ascertain the perception of the residents of the neighborhood, regarding the effects of this exposure. RESULTS: The noise levels at all the measured points were found to exceed the critical level for the area, 55 dB(A). A total of 225 interviews were conducted. Noise-related annoyance was reported by 48.4% of the respondents. Associations were observed between living in areas exposed to traffic noise and feeling annoyed with this noise (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the importance of reviewing and updating Brazilian public policies regarding environmental noise. We found a high prevalence of annoyance reports, as well as aspects indicative of sensitivity to noise exposure.

Acoustic evaluation and adjustment of an open-plan office through architectural design and noise control.

Arranging office space into a single open room offers advantages in terms of easy exchange of information and interaction among coworkers, but reduces privacy and acoustic comfort. Thus, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the acoustic quality of a real open-plan office and to propose changes in the room to improve the acoustic conditioning of this office. The computational model of the office under study was calibrated based on RT and STI measurements. Predictions were made of the RT and STI, which generated the radius of distraction r(D), and the rate of spatial decay of sound pressure levels per distance doubling DL(2) in the real conditions of the office and after modifications of the room. The insertion of dividers between work stations and an increase in the ceiling's sound absorption improved the acoustic conditions in the office under study.

Urban daytime traffic noise prediction models.

An evaluation was made of the acoustic environment generated by an urban highway using in situ measurements. Based on the data collected, a mathematical model was designed for the main sound levels (L (eq), L (10), L (50), and L (90)) as a function of the correlation between sound levels and between the equivalent sound pressure level and traffic variables. Four valid groups of mathematical models were generated to calculate daytime sound levels, which were statistically validated. It was found that the new models can be considered as accurate as other models presented in the literature to assess and predict daytime traffic noise, and that they stand out and differ from the existing models described in the literature thanks to two characteristics, namely, their linearity and the application of class intervals.

Analysis and evaluation of soundscapes in public parks through interviews and measurement of noise.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the sound environment of public parks using a soundscape study model that analyzes not only noise but also all the types of sound of a given area, as well as other environmental factors. To this end, acoustic measurements were made in the parks under study and interviews were held with their frequent visitors. Noise measurements were conducted in 55 points, and a total of 335 people were interviewed in the 4 parks studied. The parks selected for this study are located in areas very close to streets with intense vehicle flow, raising the hypothesis that this proximity impairs the acoustic comfort of their visitors. The findings confirm the strong influence of traffic noise on the soundscapes of the parks. Noise measurements showed that in all parks, between 50 and 100% of the points evaluated displayed sound levels above 55dB(A), the level established by Curitiba's Municipal Law 10625 as the limit permitted for green areas during daytime. Other conditions in the parks' environments were also identified, which interfere jointly in the soundscape and in its perception, such as spatial factors of each park, the urban setting of its surroundings, and the sounds originating inside the parks.

Objective and subjective evaluation of the acoustic comfort in classrooms.

The acoustic comfort of classrooms in a Brazilian public school has been evaluated through interviews with 62 teachers and 464 pupils, measurements of background noise, reverberation time, and sound insulation. Acoustic measurements have revealed the poor acoustic quality of the classrooms. Results have shown that teachers and pupils consider the noise generated and the voice of the teacher in neighboring classrooms as the main sources of annoyance inside the classroom. Acoustic simulations resulted in the suggestion of placement of perforated plywood on the ceiling, for reduction in reverberation time and increase in the acoustic comfort of the classrooms.

Evaluation of noise pollution in urban parks.

The present study provides an evaluation of noise pollution in six Urban Parks located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Equivalent noise levels (L(eq)) were measured in 303 points (each point measured during 3 min) spread throughout the Parks. Measured values were confronted with local legislation (Law 10625) allowed limits, and the Parks were thus classified as "acoustically polluted or unpolluted". Measured values were also evaluated according to international legislation: Decree no. 12 of the City Council of Rome, DIN 18005 for German cities, the World Health Organization, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Urban parks in the downtown area of Curitiba, surrounded by roads of heavy traffic and in the midst of intense commercial activities, do not satisfy any of the standards used. The most noise-polluted parks in Curitiba were the Public Walk Park and the Botanical Garden Park, with measured L(eq) of 64.8 dB(A) and 67 dB(A).

[Comparative study of the perception of urban noise]. / Estudo comparativo da percepção do ruído urbano.

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively analyze the perception of daily urban noise between residents of an acoustically and a non-acoustically controlled area. METHODS: Two urban areas were selected through objective assessments of equivalent sound levels and defined as a non-acoustically and an acoustically controlled area. A random sample of each area was selected and a questionnaire was applied to its residents. Statistical indicators of urban noise perception were generated through factorial multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The average sound level (Leq) found in the downtown district (a non-acoustically controlled area) was 72.9 dB(A) and in the acoustically controlled area was 53.3 dB(A). Three statistical indicators were generated through factorial multivariate analysis: temporary perception, perception of atypical noises and sources and disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: Residents of the acoustically controlled area reported increased noise level. The sound level in the downtown district has remained practically constant and much above the standards established by local law. The generated indicators are useful parameters to characterize the perception to continuous noise exposure in the population.

Estudo comparativo da percepção do ruído urbano / Comparative study of the perception of urban noise

OBJETIVO: Analisar comparativamente a percepção ao ruído urbano no cotidiano dos habitantes de uma zona controlada acusticamente e outra não controlada. MÉTODOS: Duas zonas de uma cidade foram selecionadas por meio de avaliações objetivas dos níveis sonoros equivalente como zona controlada e zona não controlada acusticamente. Uma amostra aleatória de cada zona foi selecionada e submetida a questionário. Foram gerados indicadores estatísticos da percepção ao ruído urbano por meio da análise multivariada fatorial. RESULTADOS: O valor médio para o nível sonoro (Leq) encontrado no centro (zona não controlada acusticamente) foi de 72,9 dB(A), e na zona controlada acusticamente foi de 53,3 dB(A). A análise multivariada fatorial gerou três indicadores estatísticos: percepção temporal, percepção de ruídos atípicos e fontes e distúrbios. CONCLUSÕES: A população da zona controlada indicou aumento no nível de ruído percebido. O nível sonoro no centro da cidade tem se mantido praticamente constante e muito acima do especificado pela Lei Municipal. Os indicadores gerados podem servir como parâmetros para caracterizar a percepção à exposição contínua ao ruído pela população.

[Evaluation of noise pollution in the Botanical Garden in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil]. / Avaliação da poluição sonora no parque Jardim Botânico de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil.

This study focuses on noise pollution in the Botanical Garden in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Equivalent noise levels (Leq) were measured at 21 points throughout the park, and interviews were conducted with park visitors. Some 47.6% of the measurement sites presented Leq levels over 65dB(A), considered by preventive medicine as the maximum tolerable exposure level without risk of health impairment, and 90.5% of the sites failed to comply with Municipal Ordinance 8,583, setting 55dB(A) as the maximum noise emission level for green areas. The results of interviews with visitors showed that 78% visit the park at least twice a week and that 96% come for physical activity. During their activities in the Botanical Garden, 24% of interviewees identified noise pollution as a source of annoyance, as compared to 22% who complained of insufficient park security.

Avaliaçäo da poluiçäo sonora no parque Jardim Botânico de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil / Evaluation of noise pollution in the Botanical Garden in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Foi realizado um estudo da poluiçäo sonora no parque Jardim Botânico de Curitiba. Efetuaram-se medições do nível sonoro equivalente Leq em dB(A), em 21 pontos espalhados dentro da área do parque, além de entrevistas com os freqüentadores do local. Constatou-se que 47,6 por cento dos pontos de mediçäo apresentaram níveis sonoros acima de Leq = 65dB(A), considerado pela medicina preventiva como o nível máximo a que um cidadäo pode se expor sem riscos à saúde, e 90,5 por cento dos pontos avaliados näo satisfizeram à Lei Municipal nº 8.583, que fixa o limite de 55dB(A) como nível máximo de emissöes sonoras em áreas verdes. O resultado do questionário aplicado na forma de entrevistas aos freqüentadores do parque mostrou que 78 por cento dos entrevistados costumam visitar o parque pelo menos duas vezes na semana e que 96 por cento buscam a realizaçäo de uma atividade física. Durante a prática de suas atividades no parque, 24 por cento dos entrevistados apontam a poluiçäo sonora e 22 por cento a segurança no local como fatores de perturbaçäo

[Annoyance caused by urban noise to the citizens of Curitiba, Brazil]. / Incômodo causado pelo ruído urbano à população de Curitiba, PR.

The study describes people's reaction to environmental noise in Curitiba, a city of approximately 1.6 million inhabitants in Brazil. Data was collected using questionnaires randomly delivered to the city's residents. Out of 1,000 questionnaires, 860 (86%) were returned and assessed. The main noise sources found as disturbing were motor vehicle traffic (73%) and neighbors (38%), which were rated as producing the most disturbing noise. All respondents pointed out at least one of the following as noise sources: neighbors, animals, sirens, civil construction, religious worship temples, nightclubs, toys, and domestic electric appliances. The main reactions to noise exposure were: irritability (58%), difficulty to concentrate (42%), sleeping disorders (20%), and headaches (20%).

Incômodo causado pelo ruído urbano à populaçäo de Curitiba, PR / Annoyance caused by urban noise to the citizens of Curitiba, Brazil

Descreve-se a reaçäo da populaçäo de Curitiba, PR - cidade com aproximadamente 1,6 milhöes de habitantes ó, ao ruído ambiental . Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários distribuídos aleatoriamente a moradores da cidade. Dos 1.000 questionários distribuídos, 860 (86por cento) foram avaliados. As principais fontes de ruído causadoras de incômodo identificadas foram o tráfego de veículos (73por cento) e os vizinhos (38por cento), sendo que estes foram classificados como a principal fonte de desconforto. Todos os respondentes apontaram pelo menos um dos seguintes itens como geradores de ruído: vizinhos, animais, sirenes, construçäo civil, templos religiosos, casas noturnas, brinquedos e aparelhos domésticos. As principais reaçöes ao ruído foram: irritabilidade (58por cento), baixa concentraçäo (42por cento), insônia (20por cento) e dores de cabeça (20por cento)