Archives of

1. Introduction
Noise is one of the harmful factors that can cause short- and long-term health problems. Noise pollution can be described as regular exposure to high sound levels that can have adverse effects on humans or other living organisms and gradually pose a potential threat to a person’s physical and mental health, thereby affecting overall well-being [1]. Vibrations caused by noise pollution disrupt people’s daily activities. According to the World Health Organization, a sound level of less than 70 decibels does not harm living organisms, regardless of the duration or continuous exposure. The permissible threshold for tolerable noise is about 80 dB for normal people, and exposure to constant noise above 85 dB for more than 8 hours may be dangerous [2]. Transportation-related noise pollution appears in many forms, such as road, aviation, marine, and train noise. Specifically, traffic noise refers to offensive sounds produced by vehicles on public roads. Car engines, exhaust systems, aerodynamic friction, and interactions between vehicles and the road system are all factors that create this type of noise [3,4]. Another factor to consider when dealing with traffic noise is poor urban planning. This creates serious traffic noise problems where residential properties, facilities such as schools, hospitals, religious places, and other social structures are often built adjacent to major roads without proper sound insulation or buffer zones [5]. These buildings can reflect, absorb, and transmit sounds. However, the amount of reflection, absorption, and transmission also depends on other factors such as building materials and structures [6].
People living in urban environments may be exposed to noise pollution from various sources. This pollution comes from cars and trucks on roads, industrial activities, and trains transporting goods to or from industrial facilities [7]. Environmental noise in urban residential areas has a positive relationship with the total volume of traffic on the roads and the density of industrial facilities [8]. Therefore, communities near industrial sites may be seriously affected by air and noise pollution from traffic, which can contribute to adverse health outcomes [9]. Although sound pollution consists of a wide range of frequencies, the effect of exposure to different sound frequencies is not well understood yet [10].
Every day, people travel from place to place using motor
Evaluation of Noise Pollution in Residential Areas Under the Influence of Truck Traffic in Ramshir, Khuzestan-Iran
Noise pollution in residential areas under the influence of truck traffic
vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks, and offroad
vehicles. As people travel, there will be an adverse
side effect of high traffic volume in the form of traffic
congestion and traffic noise pollution [11,12]. In a study
about noise pollution in the city of Kermanshah, it was
shown that educational programs should be implemented
to increase the level of awareness and performance of
the citizens of Kermanshah because they had a low level
of awareness about the effects of noise pollution [8]. In
another study, it was reported that noise control measures
such as controlling the source and direction of sound
propagation and setting up workshops in a suitable place
far from residential areas are necessary and can affect the
health of workers and people [9]. For example, the sources
of noise pollution in the studied areas in India and Romania
are mainly attributed to the traffic of motor vehicles and
trucks [12,13]. Furthermore, researchers in France found
that there is a significant relationship between exposure
to noise and transportation and the risks created [14],
complaints about noise are more common in cities with
high population density [5].
Noise is one of the harmful physical parameters in
the work environment that can cause annoyance. Noise
annoyance is one of the most important problems
caused by unwanted noises. Annoyance is a reaction to
unwanted noise and occurs when the noise interferes with
the person’s main thought or task. Noise annoyance has
nothing to do with the health of the users and is merely a
measure to express the level of comfort and convenience
of the users. There are various qualitative criteria in the
category of noise annoyance, among which the most
important ones are loudness, sharpness, roughness, and
fluctuation [3,10].
Due to the transit road and its special location in the
vicinity of Mahshahr and Imam Khomeini ports, Ramshir
has become an important city in transportation, so that
a very large volume of cargo trucks pass through it every
day to transport materials and goods to different parts of
the country. Due to the absence of a ring road in Ramshir,
the main road and highway pass through its center. Over
time, this problem has caused the residents around the
road to express their dissatisfaction with the noise caused
by the traffic of trucks, and it has even caused some
residents to migrate. Therefore, this study was conducted
to investigate noise pollution in residential areas under
the influence of truck traffic in Ramshir. The study also
focused on evaluating the issue of noise pollution and the
complaints of the people in the region.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study area
The area examined in this research was the city of
Ramshir in Khuzestan province. Ramshir, one of the cities
of Khuzestan province, is located in the southwest of Iran.
It is adjacent to Ahvaz and Mahshahr Port from the west,
Omidieh from the south and east, and Ramhormoz from
the northeast. It is 35 km from Mahshahr Port. Despite
the small size of Ramshir, due to the existence of a road
that acts as a highway for transportation, the traffic of
trucks is high. In this research, to investigate the situation
of noise pollution on the road of trucks in Ramshir, first,
the study area was visited to evaluate the current situation
and determine the sources of noise pollution.
2.2. Sampling
In this applied study, the sample size in the study area of
10 stations was selected systematically and according to
the noise caused by the trucks in the main sections. In
the studied areas, most of the uses were residential. By
collecting and analyzing all the information related to
the study areas in Ramshir, actions were taken regarding
selecting points for measurement stations and conducting
field studies, and the stations were determined according
to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard
(Table 1). In this investigation, the noise pollution in
Ramshir from May to the end of July 2023 was considered
in two times of the day (8-11) in the morning and at night
(21-24) with 3 repetitions. A standard questionnaire was
also used to investigate the annoyance caused by noise
among exposed residents.
2.3. Sound measurement method
Measurements were conducted over three months in two
day and night shifts by employing a TES-1358C analyzer
sound meter device (TES Company, Taiwan). According
to the standard of the Environmental Protection
Organization, sound equivalent levels (Leq) were recorded
at a 10-minute interval. Atmospheric measurements were
taken in the same temperature conditions during the
day and night.
In this study, in addition to the Leq, the maximum
sound created since the beginning of the measurement
(Lmax), the minimum sound created since the beginning
of the measurement (Lmin), and the sound pressure level
(SPL) in each measurement station were registered [11].
Table 1. The coordinates of the sound parameter measurement locations
in Ramshir
Station Location Longitude (E) Latitude (N)
1 Naft Street 30.90°47′67′′ 49.42°08′37′′
2 Besaat Street 30.90°26′93′′ 49.41°90′19′′
3 Tohid Street 30.90°16′33′′ 49.41°82′39′′
4 Cheraghzadeh Street 30.89°95′69′′ 49.41°62′93′′
5 Molavi Street 30.89°85′76′′ 49.41°54′37′′
6 Shariati Street 30.89°06′94′′ 49.40°82′28′′
7 Jomhouri Street 30.88°94′61′′ 49.40°75′82′′
8 Montazeri Street 30.88°80′96′′ 49.40°63′22′′
9 Valeih Asr Street 30.88°69′25′′ 49.40°51′95′′
10 Damghani Street 30.88°16′36′′ 49.40°03′08′′
Sharifi Nejad et al
32 Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 13, Number 1, 2024
The size of the sample and statistical population were
calculated based on equation (1):
Eq. (1): Sample size = number of repetitions × frequency of
morning and night × number of days of the week × number
of months × number of stations
3 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 10 = 360
It should be noted that 360 numbers were studied for 4
audio parameters. A total of 1440 measured parameters
were obtained, and the statistical population of people
exposed to noise pollution included 100 questionnaires
considering various demographic variables. To ensure the
correctness of the sound meter measurement and the sound
meter calibration method, it is necessary to first calibrate
it with a standard sound tube. This generator is called the
calibrator model CELL-110/2, which produces a certain
level of pure sound equal to 114 dB at a certain frequency.
2.4. Determination of noise annoyance
In this research, the ISO 15666 noise annoyance
questionnaire was used to evaluate noise annoyance. The
Persian version of this questionnaire has been approved
by Iranian researchers, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient
has been reported as 0.81. To investigate the level of
noise annoyance of people living in the study areas, 100
questionnaires with 16 questions were prepared, and
during 3 months, sampling was completed by people
from different urban areas in the region. According to this
questionnaire, the surveyed people were asked to respond
to the level of annoying noise in their living environment.
In this questionnaire, people were questioned about their
experiences of emotions during the day, such as feeling
tired, weak, reduced concentration, discomfort, and
tinnitus. In this questionnaire, demographic data, such as
gender, age, occupation, and education, were also taken
into consideration [15,16].
2.5. Data analysis
The data were collected, and the raw data were entered
into SPSS (version 21) and Excel software. Then, they
were categorized, and the necessary results were extracted,
including finding the average of the data along with the
maximum and minimum of the data. Moreover, the
results of the questionnaires were drawn in the form of
an illustrative diagram after being processed in Excel and
underwent analysis.
3. Results
The highest SPL was observed during the day at station 3,
so it had the highest measured sound level compared to
other investigated areas. Additionally, the SPL in the night
at station 6 was higher than other areas. In all the studied
areas, the highest average SPL was higher in the morning
than at night, with the exception of Shariati Street. The
highest Lmax value on the day was related to station 8,
while the lowest Lmax value was attributed to station 9.
The highest Lmax at night was associated with station 6,
whereas the lowest Lmax value was related to station 8. The
highest amount of Leq per day was obtained at station 1,
while the lowest value of the Leq parameter was observed
at station 10. In addition, the highest amount of Leq at
night was obtained at station 6, whereas the lowest value
of the Leq parameter was associated with station 3. Based
on the results, the lowest value of Lmin per day was related
to station 9. The highest Lmin at night was attributed to
station 6, while the lowest Lmax value belonged to stations
2 and 10 (Table 2).
Considering that the P value was smaller than 0.05
(P < 0.05), the analysis of variances was heterogeneous,
and there was a significant difference in terms of SPL and
Leq between the 10 studied areas (P < 0.05, Table 3).
The permissible level of sound intensity in Iran in
residential areas is 55 dB during the day and 45 dB at night,
and the international standard in residential areas is 45 dB
[8]. The comparison of the sound measured data in the
studied stations using the t-test with the standard values
Table 2. Measurement of sound parameters during day and night in 10 regions of Ramshir
Station
SPL (dB) Leq (dB) Lmin (dB) Lmax (dB)
Day Night Day Night Day Night Day Night
1 84.22 ± 0.20 64.10 ± 0.06 83.40 ± 0.38 64.10 ± 0.33 71.20 ± 0.02 65.21 ± 0.02 82.20 ± 0.15 74.22 ± 0.10
2 80.14 ± 0.02 69.25 ± 0.45 79.02 ± 0.12 69.25 ± 0.20 70.40 ± 0.01 63.01 ± 0.45 81.90 ± 0.22 74.56 ± 0.19
3 88.25 ± 0.15 62.10 ± 0.15 78.90 ± 0.25 62.10 ± 0.23 66.20 ± 0.12 63.02 ± 0.34 76.10 ± 0.50 74.59 ± 0.50
4 84.02 ± 0.18 76.12 ± 0.18 80.46 ± 0.11 76.12 ± 0.06 68.10 ± 0.25 67.42 ± 0.02 82.30 ± 0.08 79.14 ± 0.10
5 80.02 ± 0.43 80.30 ± 0.16 75.01 ± 0.19 80.30 ± 0.19 72.30 ± 0.02 71.26 ± 0.45 80.06 ± 0.07 79.43 ± 0.12
6 76.01 ± 0.28 82.17 ± 0.25 75.01 ± 0.02 82.17 ± 0.52 69.60 ± 0.12 73.11 ± 0.43 79.40 ± 0.25 85.12 ± 0.35
7 78.23 ± 0.50 64.14 ± 0.45 74.26 ± 0.52 64.14 ± 0.12 70.20 ± 0.43 69.24 ± 0.15 79.10 ± 0.22 78.14 ± 0.50
8 84.01 ± 0.06 73.11 ± 0.03 81.02 ± 0.08 73.11 ± 0.05 73.30 ± 0.02 63.02 ± 0.02 86.80 ± 0.02 70.13 ± 0.02
9 78.19 ± 0.45 66.12 ± 0.18 74.23 ± 0.29 66.12 ± 0.32 64.10 ± 0.45 67.51 ± 0.45 75.10 ± 0.20 79.50 ± 0.12
10 76.12 ± 0.05 71.24 ± 0.24 71.41 ± 0.28 71.14 ± 0.12 67.30 ± 0.46 63.01 ± 0.11 77.20 ± 0.26 75.14 ± 0.08
Note. SPL: Sound pressure level; Leq: Equivalent continuous sound level; Lmin: Minimum sound level; Lmax: Maximum sound level.
Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 13, Number 1, 2024 33
Noise pollution in residential areas under the influence of truck traffic
revealed that the P value was smaller than 0.05. Thus, with
a probability of 95%, the average level of sound pressure
during the day and night in all areas of Ramshir for all the
investigated parameters had a significant difference with
the standard level of sound (55 dB for day and 45 dB for
night; P < 0.05, Table 4).
A survey was conducted to determine the level of
annoyance among the residents of Ramshir. About 69% of
the respondents were women, and 31% were men. Most of
the questioned people (39%) were between 40 and 60 years
old, and 7% of people were over 60 years old (Table 5).
All people (100%) answered the question about how
loud trucks are at their place of residence. About 28%
believed that the sound of the truck in their place of
residence was loud, and 61% and 11% rated it as moderate
and low, respectively. Nearly 12% of people answered
positively, while 88% answered negatively to the question
of exposure to sources of dust noise from the sound of
trucks. Sources of noise other than truck noise, according
to the respondents, are noisy workshops, industrial
centers, drilling operations, urban development, traffic,
and transport vehicles. About 71% of the questioned
people could concentrate despite the noise. The disturbing
sound of trucks in 48% of people caused interference in
conversation with others. Approximately 68% of people
mentioned interference while listening to and watching
radio and television.
In 21% of the mentioned people, the noise caused by
trucks led to insomnia. In 8% of cases, the noise from
the airplane caused them to jump out of bed. In addition,
48% of people were disturbed by the sound of trucks
during the day and night. None of the people experienced
tinnitus when exposed to the sound of the truck. About
2% of people also got headaches when faced with the
sound of trucks. According to the research subjects, the
highest amount of truck noise in the morning and night
was 12% and 17%, respectively, while the lowest amount
was 2% and 4% in the afternoon and evening, respectively.
According to these people, the most dissatisfaction with
truck noise was in the morning and at night. The impact
of truck noise was highly disturbing, disturbing, and
slightly disturbing in 13%, 37%, and 36%, respectively.
Nearly 92% of the people under study were not familiar
with the effects of noise pollution on human health, and
92% of the people in the study were not familiar with the
measures to control and reduce noise pollution in places
and personal protective equipment (Table 6).
Discussion
Noise pollution in cities is considered one of the most
important environmental problems, the intensity of
which has increased in recent years due to the increase in
population density in cities, the increase in the number of
motor vehicles, the increase in industries in the vicinity of
cities, and the increase in construction activities. In this
research, at all the sound sampling stations in Ramshir,
the average sound level was equivalent, and the SPL
was higher than the standard values of Iranian sound.
Based on t-test results and comparison with the sound
standard in residential environments, it was found that
the difference between the average sound levels in the
studied area was less than 0.05 (P < 0.05). Accordingly,
the test was significant (P < 0.05), and sound levels in
all stations were higher than the sound standard in
residential environments (P < 0.05). In some cities in Iran,
unfortunately, there is no ring road around the cities, and
this problem causes trucks and trucks to enter the cities,
and the city of Ramshir is no exception to this rule. Noise
pollution is currently one of the environmental problems
of large cities, but despite the small size of Ramshir,
noise pollution is high due to the existence of a road that
serves as a highway in transportation and one of the main
environmental problems in the city of Ramshir is noise
Table 3. One-way analysis of variance for sound levels in Ramshir stations
Sum Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
Leq
Between regions 1648.21 9 274.70 57.97 0.00
Within the regions 497.54 105 4.74
Total 2145.76 359
SPL
Between regions 1564.56 9 260.76 37.21 0.00
Within the regions 735.87 105 7.01
Total 2300.43 359
Note. df.: Degree of freedom; Sig.: Level of significance; SPL: Sound pressure level; Leq: Equivalent continuous sound level.
Table 4. Comparison of sound parameters in day and night shift stations with
Iranian sound standards
Time Parameters T df. Sig. Difference of Means
Day
(55 db)
Lmax 33.68 359 0.00 16.95
Lmin 14.19 359 0.00 5.70
Leq 22.23 359 0.00 9.43
SPL 32.06 359 0.00 13.72
Night
(45 db)
Lmax 31.01 359 0.00 23.54
Lmin 37.56 359 0.00 13.54
Leq 38.44 359 0.00 12.17
SPL 42.83 359 0.00 52.21
Note. df.: Degree of freedom; Sig.: Level of significance; SPL: Sound pressure
level; Leq: Equivalent continuous sound level; Lmin: Minimum sound level;
Lmax: Maximum sound level.
Sharifi Nejad et al
34 Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 13, Number 1, 2024
pollution caused by the sound of trucks passing by on this
highway. Traffic noise from highways creates problems
for surrounding areas, especially when there are high
traffic volumes and high speeds. The problem of vehicular
traffic noise is caused by different types of vehicles, such
as heavy, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and buses,
cars, and two-wheelers [3]. Inappropriate transportation
systems in cities are among the most important sources of
noise pollution in terms of extent and penetration into the
innermost layers of life [5,12-14].
The average SPL in the 10 studied areas during the
night shift, with the exception of Shariati Station, was
lower than the day shift, and there was a significant
difference between the measured values for sound levels
during the day and night (P < 0.05). On a sunny day, the
sun heats the earth, and then the earth returns its heat to
the lower layers of the atmosphere. As the lower layers of
the atmosphere heat up, the sound travels upward. In this
case, the effect of the heat of the earth, compared to the
direct sound propagation mode, causes the level of noise
pollution around the road. At night, if the sky is clear,
the earth gives back its heat and cools down faster than
the air, and as a result, the lower layers of the atmosphere
cool down faster than the upper layers. In fact, with the
increase in height from the earth’s surface, the temperature
increases, and as a result, the movement of sound waves
changes downward. In such a situation, the amount of
noise around the road increases compared to the direct
emission mode [17]. Ambient sound levels measured at a
given location depend on a number of specific variables.
In particular, many authors have found that the observed
noise levels are mainly related to the characteristics of
road traffic and, in particular, traffic volume, car horns,
rolling stock and tires, and vehicles. Several studies have
shown that the urban condition of a given area is also a
highly important factor that affects environmental noise
levels [5,8,12,14]. Basically, due to increasing population
density, commercial activities, and traffic volume in the
city, noise levels are different for both day and night [17].
All the people questioned felt uncomfortable about
the sound of the trucks. Approximately 49% of people
felt most uncomfortable at night, and 34% of them felt
most uncomfortable in the morning. In addition, 11% of
people felt the most discomfort in the evening, and 6%
felt the most discomfort at noon. People feel the most
discomfort when they rest at night. In the evening and at
Table 5. Demographics of the participants in the noise annoyance survey of
Ramshir
Characteristics Items Abundance (%)
Gender
Men 31
Women 69
Age (y)
12-20 17
20-40 37
40-60 39
> 60 7
Education
High school 23
Diploma 35
Associate degree 19
Bachelor’s degree 15
Master’s degree 8
Type of job
Employee 29
Retired 6
Freelance job 21
Housewife 39
Student 5
Table 6. The results of the survey of the residents of the study areas of Ramshir
No. Questions Yes (%) No (%)
1 Are you concentrating despite the sound of the truck? 71 29
2 Do annoying sounds interfere with your conversations with others? 48 52
3 Does the sound of the truck disturb you while listening to the radio or television? 68 32
4 Does the sound of the truck make you sleepless? 21 79
5 Does the sound of the truck wake you up? 8 92
6 Do you get irritated by the sound of the truck during the day and night? 48 52
7 Do you get a headache after being exposed to the sound of a truck? 2 98
8 Do you suffer from tinnitus due to the sound of trucks after the disturbance? 0 100
9 Does the sound of the truck affect other members of your family? 31 69
10 Does the sound of the truck disturb people’s concentration while studying? 12 88
11 Do you think there is a big difference in the volume of truck noise at different hours? 62 38
12 Do you also face noise in your workplace? 14 86
13 Do you know about the effects of noise pollution on human health? 8 92
14 Are you familiar with sound control methods (personal protection) in places? 8 92
15 Are you willing to cooperate in noise pollution reduction programs? 67 33
16 Do you encounter other sound sources in addition to the sound of trucks? 12 88
Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 13, Number 1, 2024 35
Noise pollution in residential areas under the influence of truck traffic
night, which are considered to be the most sensitive hours
in terms of noise nuisance for people living near the road,
the temperature factor increases noise pollution. In cloudy
weather, the aforementioned effects do not appear, and
the path of sound waves is straight [17]. Researchers have
reported that people affected by noise and noise pollution
may suffer from communication and sleep disorders,
memory, lack of proper learning, stress, increased blood
pressure and blood lipid disorders, increased blood
concentration and blood sugar, and activation of the factor
causing blood coagulation. Further, noise caused by heavy
vehicles such as trucks increases heart and brain attacks as
well as heart and arterial diseases [18-21]. In residential
areas and urban environments, noise pollution caused by
road vehicles, airplanes, industrial machinery, artillery
and mining explosions, wind turbines, compressors, and
ventilation systems is highly common [22,23], and the
noise caused by trucks in cities that do not have a ring
road, and the transportation of these vehicles passing by
the city center [24,25] confirm the results. Some cities
in the world, such as New Delhi in India [26] and the
Guangzhou region of China [27], imposed restrictions
to control and reduce noise pollution caused by noisy
vehicles. Dissatisfaction with noise is influenced by factors
related to sound. Pollution caused by traffic is considered
a stressful factor. In some maps, the effects of sound
are examined as an indicator of streets, and as a result,
the role of sound is considered a risk factor for human
health. Noise pollution has different effects on mental and
physical health, harming daily activities [28,29]. In a study
evaluating the noise pollution at Mehrabad Airport among
the residents of the Tehransar region, a questionnaire
containing 12 questions was distributed among them.
By examining and analyzing the answers provided in the
answer sheets, it was concluded that the studied area is
exposed to noise pollution exceeding the standard. In fact,
this pollution is more in the flight path of airplanes. This
noise pollution is caused by the airport during the day and
is annoying at night, and most residential areas are exposed
to excessive residential noise (55 dB during the day and
45 dB during the night). This causes discomfort and
disrupts the peace and sleep of the residents of this area.
However, in the current research, the questionnaire was
used as a supplement, and in addition to the distribution
of the questionnaire, sound measurement using a sound
meter was utilized as the main task in the research [30].
It should be noted that the results of the current project
also confirm those of this research. Similar to Ramshir,
noise pollution is at a high level in Qazvin. The average
equivalent sound level obtained from the three regions of
Qazvin was compared with the standard values of Iran,
which were reported to be more than 4 times the standard
limit in the two middle and southern regions, and this
limit was lower in the northern region of the city. In the
present study, the measured sound in all the investigated
areas was recorded higher than the standard [31]. The
results of a study determined that in 20 areas of Zanjan,
like Ramshir, most areas were exposed to noise pollution,
and in most cases, the noise pollution level was higher
compared to the standard, which is consistent with the
results of this research. Furthermore, the hourly changes
are completely a function of the amount of people’s
movement habits and the traffic load in the commercial
areas of Zanjan [32], which indicates noise disturbance
in most stations and times and confirms the results of
the present research. The study of noise pollution caused
by traffic in the city of Alexandria, Egypt, revealed that,
based on the measurement, the noise level in the streets
was equal during the day and at night, and according
to Egyptian environmental law, it was higher than the
permissible limit [33,34]. However, in the current research
in Ramshir, there was a significant difference between
the sound levels recorded during the day and night, and
in both times, it was more than the permissible limit,
which contradicts the results of this research. Urban
noise also shows the differences that exist in different
societies. Noise pollution dates back to the beginning of
urbanization processes. Historically, ancient cities already
had this problem. In ancient Rome, carts were prohibited
on the streets during the evening hours to allow residents
to rest. During the Middle Ages, several cities maintained
these regulations. In this regard, industrialization brought
with it a significant change in noise pollution related to
countless aspects of urban life, from occupational hygiene
in manufacturing centers to the concept of urban public
transportation [15,17].
Conclusion
According to the results of the study in the desired areas
and the measurement of sound parameters and the traffic
of vehicles, including trucks, in the residential areas of
Ramshir, the traffic of trucks in residential areas was
an important factor in causing noise pollution in the
city. The results of the noise annoyance of the residents
demonstrated that the most dissatisfaction with the
volume of truck noise is in the morning and at night. In
general, for 10 stations at night and day, the measured
Leq and the SPL were above the standards of the Iran
Environmental Organization and the EPA. According
to the total answers, the sound of truck traffic in the
city caused noise annoyance to people. To reduce noise
pollution, the first step is related to the manufacturers of
transportation vehicles, car manufacturers, and generally
equipment manufacturers, which must be approved by
the government to implement the standard of equipment
manufacturing and enforce its implementation. In the
second and third stages, special laws should be formulated
by authorities regarding construction noise. Safety
headphones and sound insulation are used in industries
and sealing tires, and sound sensors are employed in
Sharifi Nejad et al
36 Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 13, Number 1, 2024
hospitals. Moreover, shelter belts are utilized in residential
areas to protect against the adverse effects of sound.
In the future, it is necessary to work on reducing the
environmental sources of vehicle noise by developing
low-noise automobiles, airplanes, and ships. In the urban
environment, for heavy vehicles and cargo transportation,
to control the noise, it is possible to create time traffic
restrictions for the traffic of trucks, to create a special
parking lot for trucks for the natives of the urban area, to
prevent unnecessary traffic in the city, and to set specific
hours for the passage of trucks and vehicles. Special traffic
axes should be constructed to separate the passage of
heavy vehicles from residential areas and institutionalize
the culture of not producing noise pollution.
Acknowledgments
The authors of the article would like to thank the dear colleagues
who helped in the process of conducting this research.
Authors’ Contribution
Conceptualization: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Data Curtain: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Formal Analysis: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Investigation: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Methodology: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Project Administration: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and
Ghasem Sharifi Nejad.
Resources: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Software: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Validation: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Visualization: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and Ghasem
Sharifi Nejad.
Writing–original Draft: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani and
Ghasem Sharifi Nejad.
Writing–review and Editing: Maryam Mohammadi Rouzbahani
and Ghasem Sharifi Nejad.
Competing Interests
There is no conflict of interests between the authors.
Ethical Approval
This article is part of a master’s thesis entitled “Investigation of
noise pollution and annoyance in residential areas under the
influence of truck traffic in Ramshir” submitted to the Department
of Environment of Islamic Azad University, Zahedan Branch (with
the approval code 106129641319807219019162619495).
Funding
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