Industries are a major source of noise pollution that can cause serious health hazards for workers and nearby residents. Explain the various measures that can be adopted to control industrial noise pollution, distinguishing between measures that target the source of noise and those that protect individuals from its effects. Why is it necessary to adopt both types of measures?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:37 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Measures Targeting the Source of Noise:
- Machinery and equipment should be redesigned to increase energy efficiency and reduce noise.
- Generators should be fitted with silencers to cut down noise at the point of origin.
- Noise-absorbing materials should be used in factory walls and ceilings to contain sound within the premises.
Measures Protecting Individuals:
- Workers should use earplugs and earphones (personal protective equipment) to prevent hearing damage.
- Residents and workers near noisy industries benefit from noise barriers and proper zoning.
Why Both Are Necessary:
Source-control measures reduce overall noise levels for everyone, including nearby residents. However, they cannot eliminate all noise entirely. Personal protective measures safeguard individual workers from residual noise. Together, they address both collective and individual health hazards — preventing hearing impairment, increased heart rate, blood pressure, and stress-related effects caused by industrial noise pollution.
Source: Industrial Pollution and Environmental Degradation; Control of Environmental Degradation — Chapter 6
---
Explanation
- The textbook explicitly mentions silencers for generators, redesigning machinery, noise-absorbing materials (source-side) and earplugs/earphones (individual protection). Use these exact terms — examiners look for textbook language.
- The question asks you to distinguish between the two types, so keep them clearly separated under headings or labels.
- The "Why both?" part needs a logical sentence linking the two: source measures are incomplete alone; personal measures fill the gap. One or two sentences suffice — don't over-explain.
- Mentioning health effects (hearing impairment, heart rate, blood pressure) from the passage strengthens the justification and shows you've read the chapter.