Doctors take up anti-honking cause

City doctors have taken up the task of spreading awareness about the ill effects of honking, one of the two major sources of noise pollution; the second is construction activity. Chronic exposure to honking can lead to anger issues, stress, anxiety and can even trigger a rise in blood pressure.

On Wednesday, doctors took to the streets near hospitals to distribute ‘no honking’ stickers to drivers. Said Dr. Samir Bhargava, an ear-nose-throat (ENT) specialist attached to the civic-run Cooper Hospital, “The overall exposure to honking noise can have severe effects. While honking alone may not solely cause hearing loss, chronic exposure to the noise definitely leads to damaged hearing gradually, besides sleep disorders, cardiovascular disorders etc.”

According to Dr. Bhargava, a 20-second exposure to the 120-decibel ambulance siren can cause temporary hearing loss. A study carried out at Cooper Hospital on 250 traffic policemen, who were exposed to the noise for over eight hours each day, showed that 30% of them had high-frequency hearing loss and a much higher number had hypertension as well.

Said Dr. Bhargava, “The hearing loss that occurs after crossing about 50 years of age is now setting in much earlier.” Dr. Bhargava was speaking at the ‘no honking day’ initiative organised by the HBT Traumacare Hospital in Jogeshwari along with the Association of Otolaryngologists of India on the occasion of International Noise Awareness Day on Wednesday. In a video message, Health Minister Deepak Sawant pledged never to honk.

Dr. Hetal Marfatia, professor and head of KEM Hospital’s ENT Department, said the government should help sustain such initiatives by fining people for honking. “Honking should be banned in silent zones unless it is done to avoid an accident. It is worrisome to have much noise outside hospitals.”

The World Health Organisation says environmental noise exposure is responsible for a range of health effects, including increased risk of ischaemic heart disease as well as sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment among children, annoyance, stress-related mental health risks and tinnitus (perception of noise or ringing in the ears).

Anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali said, “There should be more research by the medical fraternity which can help in creating more awareness about its harmful effects.”