Assessment of Noise Environment in Cardiac Hospital - a Case Study for An Indian City

Abstract

Assessment of impact of noise on sensitive area especially In hospital environment has become most crucial concern in the recent time. Cardiac patients are one of the most sensitive and worst affected due to noise pollution. A study is therefore conducted on 100 beds cardiac hospital with a focus to assess the noise level In the hospital environment. A 16- hours sound measurement study is done using sound level meter (DAWE Model No. 1421C) to ascertain the noise level. The results Indicate that the noise levels exceeded the limit of noise level p rescribed by the authority. There Is a significant difference (p < 0.05) spatially and temporally, In the noise exposure levels at various locations within the hospital premises. Sound pressure levels ( dBAJ were measured at 30 minutes intervals In the vicinity of a hospital environment. The resultant time series is analyzed using the Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Averages (AR/MAJ modeling technique. The time series is found to be non stationary. After first differencing, the transformed series becomes stationary and is found to be governed by a moving average process of order 1.