Outline of Noise Pollution

I. Introduction
A. Definition: unwanted sound
1. Distracts or restricts people from normal use of property
2. Routine and predictable for long periods of time
3. Occasional but excessive
4. High noise level (above 85 decibels for about 8 hours)
B. Thesis Statement
1. Specific environments produce different levels of noise that can harm us in daily life
2. The health risks and effects of exposure to unwanted sound
II. Sources of noise (specific environments)
A. In dwellings
1. Home appliances

2. Neighbours' interruption
B. Workplaces
1. Office machines
C. Industrial and commercial shopping
D. Transportation
1. Aircraft
2. Road traffic
a. Motor engines (heavy vehicles)
b. Horns of vehicles
3. Railways
E. Ceremonies, festivals and entertainment events
1. Concerts
2. Discotheques
3. Video arcades
4. Cinemas
5. Spectators events
F. Personal stereo systems and headphones
1. High volume
G. Fireworks and weapons noise
H. Noisy toys
1. Certain rattles and squeaky toys
2. Over the sound pressure of toys (120dB)

I. Parkland and conversation areas
J. Recreational Activities
1. Motor sports
2. Shooting ranges
III. Effects of noise pollution
A. Interference with communication
1. Cause problems with speech perception in noisy environment
B. Induce hearing impairment
1. An increase in the threshold of hearing
2. Hearing deficits may be accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
3. Inability to understand speech in daily living condition
a. Severe social handicap
C. Sleep disturbance
1. Physiological effects
a. Changes pattern of sleep stages
2. Subjective effects
a. Difficulty in falling asleep
b. Awakenings
c. Increase blood pressure
d. Heart rate and finger pulse amplitude
e. Changes in respiration
f. Increase body movement
g. Adverse after-effects
(1) Headache
(2) Tiredness
(3) Reduce perceived sleep quality
(4) Depress mood or well-being
(5) Decrease performance

3. Disturbs sensitive groups
a. Elderly person
b. Shift workers
c. Person with physical or mental disorders
D. Cardiovascular and psychophysiological effects
1. Heart disease
2. Hypertension
3. Changes in stress hormone levels
4. Changes Blood magnesium levels
5. Changes in the immune system
E. Mental health effects
1. An increased use of prescription drugs
a. Tranquillisers
b. Sleeping pills
2. An increased frequency of psychiatric symptoms
3. An increased frequency of mental hospital admissions
F. Effects on performance
1. Human productivity
a. Cause distraction and interfere
(1) Occur Accidents
2. Mental activities
a. Involving high load in working memory
(1) Sustained attention to multiple cues or complex analysis
b. Affect performance of cognitive tasks
(1) Reading
(2) Attention
(3) Problem solving

(4) Memorisation
c. After-effects that negatively affect performance
(1) Proof-reading
(2) In persistence on challenging puzzles
(3) Reading acquisition
(4) Motivational capabilities
G. Effects on social behaviour and annoyance
1. Fear or apprehension
2. Anger or irritability
3. Frustration or apathy
4. Reduce helping behaviour
5. Increase aggressive behaviour
6. Cause suicide
7. Violence
IV. Conclusion
A. The growth in noise pollution affects future generations, socio-culture, economic effects
B. Public awareness, noise control and noise reduction have to be given priority
1. Laws to protect public health
2. Invent quieter equipment by new technologies

Sources of information :
http://www.nonoise.org/
http://www.quiet.org/faq.htm
http://www.lhh.org/noise/index.htm
http://www.who.int/peh/noise/noiseindex.html