Measurement of the Levels of Environmental Noise Pollution at Major Stalling Traffic Points in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was undertaken so that the levels of environmental noise at the major stalling traffic points in Minna could be determined, such that a Geographic Information System (GIS) layer of environmental noise pollution at these stalling traffic points could be created. The major stalling traffic points of Minna were initially georeferenced, the values archived on the Minna GIS, and then environmental noise levels were measured at all of these stations during the morning, afternoon, and evening hours. The dataset acquired for this survey indicates that all of the stations visited during the morning and afternoon hours experienced high levels of environmental noise: the evening hours had 88.24% “noisy” stations (above the 70dBA safe threshold for environmental noise) and 11.76% “normal” stations (below or equivalent to the 70dBA safe threshold for environmental noise). Thus, for the time of day when traffic warden personnel are active in Minna (morning and afternoon hours), most of them would be continually exposed to high levels of environmental noise. These exposures, however, are over disparate intervals. The final result of this exercise is now a GIS noise level layer at stalling traffic points in Minna.