ABSTRACT

This study assessed the noise pollution level in selected locations in the university of Benin. In contrast to many other environmental problems,noise pollution continues to grow and its growth is unsustainable because it involves direct, as well as cumulative, adverse health effects. It is therefore important to assess the environment where noise levels have risen up  using suitable tools of measurement and determine whether or not a definite nuisance exists.

 An investigation of environmental noise pollution level in the university was carried out with the use of a sound level meter. A total of six (6) noise monitoring stations were carefully selected to represent parts of the study area falling under traffic interaction at different parts of the campus for data collection.Data was collected for a period of a week between 2:00pm to 4:00pm daily being the peak hour for the selected location from Monday 31st October to Sunday 7th November 2022. The monitoring sites consist of road junctions, along traffic route and passengers loading park within the university. Noise levels were measured at these points so that recorded noise levels could be compared with permissible standards.

This investigation reveals that noise levels at each point were 87.60 dB, 91.74 dB, 91.83 dB, 64.48 dB, 56.49 d and 51.97 dB respectively, showing that 3 of 6 measurement points exceeded the World Health Organization(WHO) noise level standard for traffic areas (70dBA) by values of 17.61-21.83 dB (A). Hence, the present status of noise pollution in those areas poses a severe healthrisktothestudentsandworkers.Thestudytherefore concluded that there is need for the school management to collaborate with the government to ensure that sustainable noise mitigation measures are put in place in the institutions to advert its negative consequences on students’ performance and staffoutput.