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Nowadays, because of the development of urbanization in megacities, people are exposed to many threats such as noise pollution. Every day, in citizens are exposed to various harmful agents such as noise, vibration and stress which may have negative effects on their health safety and performance (1-4). Fast growing industry and vehicle population in town in the recent years, has resulted in a considerable increase in traffic on the roads causing alarming noise pollution, air pollution (1-4). Noise pollutions from traffic were discussed as factor of society health level reduction (1-4). Exposure to road traffic noise has been associated with numerous adverse health endpoints (5-7). Health effects such as hypertension, sleep quality, mental health and cardiovascular disease are the important characteristics of exposure to noise pollution (8-15). Noise level increases can increase cases in hypertension and heart rate in the residential (16,17). Developing industrial cities and tendency to live in large cities have caused inhabitants this cites face a number of problems. According to the :union: of Europe annually, the social costs of traffic noise are more than €40 billion annually, and urban transportation is responsible for the volume of costs (18). Ahvaz city, with a population of 1 million, approximately, with an area of 140 km². Khuzestan province extends over between 48 degrees to 29′ east of Greenwich meridian between 31 degrees to 45′ to the north of the equator (19-21). In the last decade, Significant urban, industrial development, growing motor vehicles and development of universities have increased transportation on roads, which caused different kinds of pollution especially noise pollution in various parts of Ahvaz city (19-22). Study about noise pollution and effects on health residential megacities such as Ahvaz is important. Therefore, a descriptive statistics of noise levels and different health endpoint were also shown in this study (1,23).
Aims of the study:
The main purpose of this research was to assessment of noise pollution and its effect on resident’s health in Ahvaz, Iran in 2011.
 

Materials & Methods

Materials
The present study is a descriptive study. This study was carried out in Ahvaz on 4 highway in 2011. Sampling was already performed in 31 test locations were selected from the streets with the highest level of traffic. Noise levels were measured by a sound level meters TES -1353 with analyzer. This device calibrated before and after use based on stretcher international standards (24,25). Situating sound level meters were at a height of 150 cm above the ground. Equivalent noise sampling was at 30 minutes intervals. The tests were performed in all 75 sampling locations in the roadway of the Ahvaz city. Measurements in locations study were performed near roadway (24,26). For data analyzed, we used descriptive statistics include frequency, percentage, and mean±SD. The primary standard of sound pressure according to EPA is 65 dB (27). The standard of sound pressure level according to ministry health of Iran’s standards is 65 dB (27).
The instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire including demographic data (characteristics such as age, sex and experience) and questions related to the attitude participants in near test locations about Health effects attributed to noise pollution included 7 questions in 1 domain: myocardial infarction, depression, sleep quality, decrease hearing, mental health, hypertension and nervousness. We use at Cranach’s alpha (0.88) for determined validity and reliability of the questionnaire.
 
 
 

 

Figure 1) Location of the study area and sampling station in the Khuzestan Province (Ahvaz city), in the South-West of Iran