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Making of an effective biological noise barrier to reduce highway noise: a pilot study

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Author Affiliations

  • 1School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
  • 2School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
  • 3School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
  • 4School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
  • 5School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
  • 6Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
  • 7Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Vignan Institute of Technology and Management, Berhampur, Odisha, India
  • 8School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 6, Issue (9), Pages 1-7, September,22 (2017)

Abstract

Noise pollution has become a major polluting agent in the developing economies. Highway noise pollution has created an environment of stress in people living adjacent to the highways. Various artificial noise barriers available in the market are either costly or requires frequent changes and are not study. This excess noise causes various physical and mental ailments in the local populace. The aim of the study was to find a cheap, sturdy and biological origin noise barrier which can be easily deployed. Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is a bunchgrass native to India, these grass are sturdy, and have potential to be an effective noise barrier. 4 such sites on highways were selected. 2 sites were made control and other 2 were made the experimental sites. Control sites did not have the grass cover whereas the experimental sites were given the grass coverage. Anthropometric, nutritional, fasting blood sugar, cortisol and blood pressure of volunteers selected were recorded and analysed. It was observed that the vetiver grass had the tendency to reduce the noise level. The volunteers on experimental sites showed reduced fasting blood sugar, cortisol and blood pressure levels. Serum insulin levels increased after 3 months of experimentation. Basic anxiety inventory data showed significant reduced anxiety in volunteers in the experimental site. In India vetiver grass due to its easy availability and health benefits the grass has lot of potential to be used as effective noise bio barrier.

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