Survey of Noise in Urmia City in 2013

Noise pollution is one of the major environmental pollutants which threaten human health in many ways and it is very important to be concerned due to having psychiatric and physiological impacts on human. The aim of this study is to survey the level of noise pollution in different areas of Urmia city. This cross-sectional study was carried out in summer and autumn of 2013 in different parts of Urmia city. Noise measurement was done in the north, south, and central areas of the city, in the morning and evening and at night.Then data was analyzed using one-sample t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The current study indicated that the daily average noise level measured in the north, south and central parts of the city were 68.9±5.64, 71.95±4.24 and 74.27±5.89 dBA, respectively. The highest average level with 74.27±5.89 dB was recorded in Engelab Street. Also the lowest calculated average value with 68.45±7.27 dB was measured in Defa' moghadas squre. Significant differences were observed between the standard values and the average equivalent sound levels (p<0.05). In other words, the obtained average equivalent sound levels were higher than the standard. Furthermore, there was a correlation between the calculated average equivalent sound levels in the morning and at night (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.941, p<0.05). It can be concluded that Urmia is an environmentally noise polluted city. In most cases, the noise levels exceed the recommended levels by Iranian Environmental Protection Organization.