Assessment of Noise Pollution Levels of Selected Sawmills Activities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Sawmill industries generate high levels of sound to the residential, commercial industrial environments which may be hazardous to human health. The high sound (noise) can affect workers and residents psychologically as well as physiologically. This paper presents the findings of a baseline research undertaken to evaluate the sound level at sawmill workstations in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria using a digital sound level meter of model TES – 1350A and global positioning system. A total of fifteen sawmill workstations in seven towns of the L.G.A were assessed after a reconnaissance survey. The average measured noise level for the fifteen sawmill workstations ranged from 80.50 dBA in Imiringi (labelled - OBG10) to 100.40 dBA in Imiringi (tagged – OGB9). Apart from the average noise level of 84.30 dBA in Elebele and 80.550 dBA in Imiringi, all other values exceed Occupational Safety and Health Acts (2002) and World Health Organization (2004) recommended standard limit of 85.0 dBA 8-hour w