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BSS- 24
HYDRAULIC-HORN (UNICEF FEATURE)
Hydraulic horn causes serious harm to children: expert
DHAKA, Oct 16, 2018 (BSS/UNICEF FEATURE) – Hydraulic horn is cause of one
of the immeasurable mediums of traffic noise as well as sound pollution that
causes serious problems especially to the children, said former Vice-
Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Dr Pran Gopal
Dutta.
“This horn (hydraulic) specially causes serious damage to children…if a
child below three years of age hears a horn producing 100 decibel (dB) of
noise from a close range, he or she might lose hearing power”, he told BSS.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), generally 60 dB sounds
can make a man deaf temporarily and 100 dB sounds can cause complete
deafness. The noise in any busy street in Dhaka has been estimated at 60 to
80 dB, with the sound of hydraulic horns measuring 95 dB.
Dr Pran Gopal, an ENT (ear, nose and throat) expert, while narrating
various hazards caused by hydraulic horns and sound pollution, said, “The
most obvious consequence of traffic noise is hearing loss that is worst in
cities.”
“Hydraulic horn is very loud and can hurt the eardrums of children and long
term traffic noise causes irreparable health damages to them”, he cautioned.
“When hearing loss occurs in children, it can lead to speech problems
also”, Director of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Professor Dr Manzoor
Hussain told BSS.
“Excessive noise can cause problems like low performance in school,
weakening of the immune system and sleep disturbance of children”, said the
paediatrician.
According to Environment expert Professor Dr M A Bashar of Dhaka University
“Excessive traffic noise is one of the most common complaints of the city
residents and sound of hydraulic horn affects people more than any such
noises.”
“Though there are sets of laws to prevent sound pollution, people do not
know about those because of lack of concern, and they continue to suffer from
hydraulic horns,” he said.
Due to lack of awareness and inefficiency in driving, many drivers use the
horn unnecessarily that increases noise level in the proximity. The practical
situation is very severe in the morning time near any primary or secondary
school and even in front of hospitals.
BSS/SPL/UNICEF FEATURE/DH/MHR/1625 Hrs