The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), is set to introduce a software that will help individuals measure noise levels on their own, using their smart phones.
With the device, individuals will be able to detect when they or their neighbours have exceeded the permissible noise level in their community.
The measure has become necessary because, according to Mr E.K. Appoh, the Programme Officer of the EPA, noise levels above 90 decibels (unit for measuring noise) could lead to loss of hearing.
Research has also proved that high noise levels could cause high blood pressure, low intelligent quotient, some cardiovascular diseases and sometimes miscarriage.
The software for checking noise levels is being tried by selected people, particularly staff of the EPA and other operatives assigned to check noise levels in the country.
At the moment, noise levels are determined by a device known as the sound levels meter.
The Executive Director of the EPA, Mr Daniel S. Amlalo, made this known yesterday at the launch of the National Noise Awareness Day at the offices of the EPA in Accra.
According to Mr Amlalo, the move was part of the efforts being adopted by the EPA to help reduce noise pollution, which is gradually becoming a phenomenon in the country.
The EPA boss said even though it had developed permissible ambient noise level guidelines to regulate the level of noise within the environment, many people were still ignorant of those guidelines, hence the move to bring them closer to everyone.
“Everyone now has access to a mobile phone and having such a device will greatly help in the educational process and thereby reduce the worrying levels noise pollution is now assuming,” Mr Amlalo told the Daily Graphic.
The Programmes Officer of the EPA, Mr E.K. Appoh, said many people were ignorant of the devastating effects of noise pollution, hence the need to make its control and possible eradication everyone’s responsibility.
He revealed that the steps taken by the EPA had created some awareness and also increased the number of complaints received by the agency, as well as the various district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies.
The Minister of the MESTI, Dr Joe Oteng Agyei, in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Finance and Administration of the ministry, Mr Stanley Uzeh, said considering the adverse effect of excessive noise levels, it was crucial that everyone assumed some responsibility in fighting the noise pollution menace.
Story: Rosalind K. Amoh
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