‘Noise from rly station causes stress, sleep deprivation’

MUMBAI: Students living near railway stations experience more stress, sleep deprivation, annoyance during daytime and reduction in working capacity as compared to those living farther away, revealed a recent study.

Researchers, who assessed the impact of noise pollution on education and mental capacity of students, expressed an immediate need for structural improvements near railway stations to reduce the negative impact of noise pollution on students.

The study was done by teaching faculties of SS Dighe College of Science, Bhandup and Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Bandra. The report was published in Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR).

The researchers divided a group of 20 students, with similar sleep and academic pattern, into two categories: experimental group — staying close to railway station and control group — staying farther away.

Researchers also measured the noise levels at Bhandup railway station for six months and discovered that noise levels vary from 60 decibel (db) to 130db. According to doctors, noise pollution can cause annoyance, aggression, hypertension, increase in blood pressure, stress, hearing loss, sleep disturbance, depression and panic attacks. If noise level remains between 80db and 90db, it can cause hearing loss.

“The experimental group was more susceptible to the negative impact of noise pollution. Around 90% of students in the experimental group experienced sleep deprivation. The number was only 10% in the control group. Also, stress was observed in 70% of students in the experimental group against 15% in the control group,” said Dr Leena Murlidharan, primary author of the study.

Researchers also recorded the higher prevalence of annoyance (100%), negative impact on academic performance (70%), drowsiness during day time (90%) among the volunteers of the experimental group, as a result of the noise pollution from the railways. Murlidharan said sleep disturbance and negative impact on working capacity, which was observed in students in the experimental group, is owing to biological changes caused by noise.

“The study suggested structural improvement is needed at the railway station or adjacent residential area to reduce the adverse impact of noise on students,” said co-author Dr Sangeeta Gaur.