A Study on the Effects of High-Decibel Vehicles Noise effecting on Human Hearing Health

Introduction 

In the modern world, humans are adopting new methods and technologies that they have been waiting for. In the automobile sector, there is an increasing demand for modern vehicles in manufacturing units. Several companies extensively manufacture vehicles that people really want to purchase. Royal Enfield bikes, JAWA, Hero, Tata, Harley Davidson, etc. These companies' bikes are highly demanded in Indian regions. Hero, Nexa, Tata, Maruti Suzuki, Kia, Hyundai, Mahindra, Toyota, Skoda, Renault, etc.—these brands of cars are highly demanded. So, the fundamental question is how their engine works. It is hoped that you have all grasped the Carnot cycle, which may have been covered during your thermodynamics studies. In short, we have reported that the maximum number of vehicles run by petrol, diesel, or CNGs, which produce pollution in our environment. It not only reduces air quality but also produces sound, and its combination of sounds may remind you of traffic. Based on our findings, prolonged exposure to loud vehicle noise poses health risks, representing a further safety consideration. The roots can be resolved by changing human mentality. Let's break down the points before drawing a conclusion. 

           

Decibels (dB)—Unit of Sound Measurement 

• 0 dB: Threshold of hearing 
• 30 dB: Quiet Library 
• 60 dB: Normal Conversation 
• 85 dB: threshold of hearing damage 
• 100 dB: Rock concert 
• 120 dB: Threshold of pain

A range of sound of 60-70 dB is recommended by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). For the speakers, either in terms of headphones or loudspeakers, which are used in movie theatres, they are already built into the prompt for maximum sound range. This analogy can assist in grasping the safe operational distance of phones and speakers. But in rowdy motors, we cannot reduce the sound like phones. In that, silencers play an important role in reducing the sound effect, but pollution may still not be controlled because of the high sulfur content in the petrol, which leads to vehicle engine damage. So, it is required to procure the best quality of petrol for your favourite vehicle. The quality of petrol should be checked. 

The key factors are the loudness and duration of your exposure to the sound: 

1. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL): Loud noise may damage the delicate hair cells in your inner ear. These cells are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that your brain interprets.  Sounds below 70 dB are safe. If it goes higher than that, it can cause permanent damage to the ear. 

2. Tinnitus: Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing a ringing, buzzing, or clicking noise in your ears when no external sound is present. It includes secondary issues like stress, fatigue, and anxiety.  

3. Hearing loss, which can be temporary or permanent, can happen due to noise, such as from explosions. It causes an extremely rapid and massive change in air pressure known as a blast wave. The injuries caused by an explosion are often categorised as primary blast injury and acute acoustic trauma. 

As one of the efficient solutions to reduce the noise, especially from the vehicles, and also reduce the road transportation concerns, this might help people/drivers to understand traffic on the road. EVs (electric vehicles) are one of the best solutions for reducing a noisy environment. Why? The reason is simple and applicable to petrol/diesel vehicles to reduce emissions of CO, NOx, SO₂, PM2.5, etc. Petrol vehicles are crowded and produce smog because of their exhaust. Even if electric vehicles come from fossil fuels, total emissions are usually lower than ICE engines. In terms of cost per km, it is much lower than petrol-type vehicles. EVs are more efficient, around 85-90%, compared to petrol types at 20-30%, and require more energy than conventional cars.  

PIB reported that on July 08, 2024, India saw a 16% rise in EV registrations in the first half of 2024, with 842,396 registered compared to 723,492 during the same period in 2023. India has 16,344 public charging stations, including 27,471 public charging points and 10,756 fast charging points, boosting EV adoption. Sales records from SIAM in FY24 and FY25 show the number of units of various EV brands. 

So, green energy sources are more efficient than primitive sources of energy; the reason is that they are affordable and convenient for everyone, and less polluting to our environment. As we are aware, the condition in Delhi, India, is that the AQI is more than 600+ in December 2025, which is hazardous to both abiotic and biotic life. CO, NOx, PM2.5, and PM10—these pollutants accumulate near road level, especially in winter when the temperature inversions trap pollutants close to the ground, preventing dispersion. This is happening because of poorly maintained engines, heavy traffic jams, and dust resuspension from the road. No one wants to go to the hospital because of the noise's effect on the human ear. 

Go for GREEN—nothing RED happening tomorrow.