Study of noise pollution in some hospitals in Al-Najaf AL-Ashraf city- Iraq.

Introduction: Noise is not simply a local problem, but a global issue that affects everyone and calls for precautionary action in any environmental planning situation. Environmental problems in hospital are a serious issue. The presence of noise can be very harmful to the patients, hospital are intended to be places for the rest of ill or injured people [1]. Noise exceeding a quiet level of 40 – 50 decibel (dBA) is known to cause emotional reactions (annoyance), disturbed sleep, delirium, elevation of blood pressure, tachycardia and is possibly linked to ischemic heart disease, presumably as a result of coronary vasoconstriction [2]. Exposure to noise has been shown to have a negative impact on work performance [3]. Also the hospitals must measure and reduce the noise in patient s room with defined compliance levels[4].Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate noise level in different hospitals in Al-Najaf AL-Ashraf city- Iraq. Research methodology: Noise level measurement was done at three hospitals in Al-Najaf AL-Ashraf city- Iraq by using a Digital Sound Level Meter. A total of 80 readings were taken at different locations of hospitals. The time for each measurement was 5 minutes, repeated for three times in each location, and then the average reading was recorded. Results: The results showed reveals the high level of noise intensity in all hospitals in Al-Najaf AL-Ashraf city in all times, these levels exceeded allowable environmental boundaries for noise intensity in health institutions. Conclusion: The study concluded that that noise levels in all of these hospitals were higher than international limits.

کلیدواژه ها:

Noise pollution ، Hospitals ، Digital Sound Level Meter