Evaluation of Noise Pollution in Barisal, a Coastal City of Bangladesh

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the noise pollution level in different zones of Barisal City. 7 different zones and 56 locations were selected in Barisal City based on land use. We tracked the noise levels in Barisal City using a sound level meter (REED SD-4023) from January 01, 2021, to April 30, 2021. Multiple samples were collected from each sampling site. The noise level at each location has been recorded three times per day. The Leq was determined to be 95.18 dBA, and the mean noise level was 73.86 dBA. Furthermore, the Leq and mean noise levels in Silent, Mixed, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Road Intersection, and Village Area were 76.57 dBA and 65.48 dBA, 82.17 dBA and 75.36 dBA, 88.10 dBA and 72.35 dBA, 97.28 dBA and 69.39 dBA, 84.13 dBA and 71.89 dBA, 82.08 dBA and 71.89 dBA, and 92.69 dBA and 69.79 dBA, respectively. The hierarchy in various land uses based on mean noise level was Mixed Area > Residential Area > Industrial Area and Road Intersection > Village Area > Commercial Area > Silent Area. The three highest noise-polluted areas were Khansons Textile Ltd. (109.68 dBA), Barisal Bus Terminal (106.82 dBA), and Kaladema (101.24 dBA), whereas the three lowest noise-polluted areas were Sadar Road (59.24 dBA), Guthia Mosjid (67.35 dBA), and Jahanara Israil School and College (69.62 dBA), based on Leq. Nonetheless, we noted that the noise levels surpassed the National Standard Level at all sites examined in this study.