Introduction
Road noise is an unwanted sound produced by vehicles. Most of the noise is caused by tires moving on the sidewalk; however, engine noise also contributes, especially when the sound comes from large vehicles such as buses and trucks. Road noise pollution remains one of the most considerable channels of major environmental problems all over the world apart from air pollution. Millions of people are exposed to a high level of noise, which harms the environment and health considering that people perceive noise differently depending on their sensitivity to sound (Ghosh, 2017). Egypt is a very loud country; thus, Cairo was identified as the city suffering most from traffic noise every day and night. Therefore, this paper seeks to determine how new technologies in car engines can reduce traffic noise pollution in Cairo.
Literature Review
The sources chosen for the research describe the problem of noise pollution as a factor influencing Cairo’s citizens’ well-being. The researchers identified this issue to be among the most significant environmental concerns in Egypt since the country has thousands of roads (Owoyemi, Falemara, & Owoyemi, 2016). Moreover, they explained the harmful effect on people’s hearing system, cardiovascular organs and determined that loudness is dangerous for pregnant women (Mohamed, Ezzeldin, & Ismail, 2019). Therefore, the government is trying to settle down this concern to reduce the risk of various ailments emergence.
Analysis of the Problem
The dangerous consequences of public noise have been known since time immemorial, but the past noise problems are nothing compared to the issues of modern society. Traffic noise pollution cannot be called a new phenomenon since Egypt is a state filled with multiple roadways connecting large and small cities. Several studies indicate that for Egypt, the problem of noise, like environmental pollution, is the second-largest among the issues of environmental pollution. Because it is highly detrimental to the natural surroundings, the cities become extremely overflown with different transport kinds. Considering the idea that Egyptian residents are not wealthy, they cannot afford to buy an environmentally sustainable car with an improved engine that does not make noises. Therefore, Cairo’s level of noise was evaluated at 85 decibels on average, while the peak was registered at 95 decibels.
In general, noise is a sign of an increasingly unruly city, crowded far beyond its supposed capacity. Moreover, it affects many individuals’ lives, especially their health, which creates a massive public concern. According to G (2016), noise causes “hearing impairment; effects on speech intelligibility; sleep disturbances; effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and other physiological functions; effects on performance and mental health; behavioral effects and annoyance” (p. 267). Noise negatively affects development due to its direct and indirect impact on life (education, production, economic processes, social aspects, etc.). Moreover, high noise levels become the source of accidents on the roads. The annoying sound produced by car horns, speakers, and audio cameras exposes citizens to mental and physical health impairments which lead to irritability and anxiety. Such interference is considered a violation of the human right to rest peacefully. Besides the above effects, the noise bothers pregnant women, bringing them into an unstable state, accordingly affecting the fetus’s health.
In recent years Egyptian government identified that the noise lever is insanely disturbing. These levels reached the inadmissible limits locally and internationally. Evaluations demonstrated that noise levels in big areas rise to almost 75-85 dB, while the level should not exceed 60 dB during the day, 55 dB in the evening, and 50 dB at night (Mohamed, Ezzeldin, & Ismail, 2019). The high noise level in large cities and capitals is conditioned by the population growth, and industries’ activities, and the lack of proper urban planning.
According to Ahmed Nader, an engineer in BMW, noise pollution poses an enormous challenge to the car industry. Because vehicle manufacturers spend a lot of money developing sustainable transport, their products tend to be less harmful to the environment. Ahmed Nader states that working on the new noise-free engines may take some time because they must be tested and proven reliable. Therefore, he suggested engine renovations such as using sound-deadening materials to solve the problem – “it can save people’s heath until we create a more sustainable car,” he mentioned.
Policy Recommendations
To combat this destructive phenomenon, it is essential to implement new technologies. Apart from lowering volumes, wearing earplugs, and planting trees to reduce disturbing car sounds, it is vital to renovate car engines (Ghosh, 2017). Modern companies can technically reduce engine noise by 5 dB without any insulation panel, even with increased engine power and higher fuel efficiency (Mohamed, Ezzeldin, & Ismail, 2019). Moreover, synthetic oil can be used to reduce friction and leads to better performance output. Sound deadening materials can also filter noise and suppress it. The underbody coating can be a very economical method since it reduces some of the engine’s noise and monitors road noise, tire noise, rust, crashing of stones, and rattle. These additions will significantly reduce the noise level and will also be affordable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it seems reasonable to state that the issue of traffic noise pollution is rapidly growing in Egypt’s capital Cairo and increasingly impacts public health. The city is filled with loud sounds day and night, which causes significant damage to people’s hearing, cardiovascular, and other systems. Therefore, new engine technologies or existing ones may be helpful in traffic noise pollution, which will less impact Cairo citizens. These innovations include excessive use of synthetic oil, underbody coating, and sound deadening material, which prove their efficiency for mitigating noise pollution.
References
G, E. (2016). Community noise in greater Cairo. Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine, 40(2), 267-285. Web.
Ghosh, S. (2017). Urban cities and road traffic noise: Reduction through vegetation. Applied Acoustics, 120, 15-20. Web.
Mohamed, H., Ezzeldin, S., & Ismail, M. (2019). Assessment of fences as noise barriers: A case study in New Cairo, Egypt. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research, 48 (7), 172-188
Owoyemi, M., Falemara, B., & Owoyemi, A. (2016). Noise pollution and control in wood mechanical processing wood industries. Preprints, 1-11. Web.