Q.Explain various harmful effects of noise pollution on human being.

Noise pollution harms both physical (hearing, cardiovascular) and psychological (stress, sleep, concentration) health.

Noise pollution, i.e., exposure to excessive or disturbing sound levels, has multiple harmful effects on humans: (1) Auditory effects — prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear (cochlear hair cells), causing temporary or, with chronic exposure, permanent hearing loss/impairment. (2) Psychological effects — persistent noise exposure causes stress, anxiety, irritability, fatigue and reduced mental well-being, and can contribute to aggressive behaviour. (3) Physiological/cardiovascular effects — chronic noise exposure has been linked to elevated blood pressure (hypertension), increased heart rate and greater risk of cardiovascular disease due to the body's stress response. (4) Sleep disturbance — noise, especially at night, disrupts normal sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and its downstream effects on health and productivity. (5) Reduced concentration and work efficiency — noise interferes with concentration, learning and memory, lowering productivity and increasing the likelihood of errors/accidents. ( …