Assessing Noise Pollution and its Impact on Student’s Blood Pressure and Their Learning Performance in Palestine

¹ Department of Environmental Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin, Indonesia
² Environment and Earth Science Department, The Islamic University of Gaza, Palestine
³ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: muraliahustim@yahoo.com

Abstract

The aim of this research was to assess noise pollution trends and to examine the relationship between noise levels and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), pulse rate and the students’ performance at several Palestinian preparatory and secondary schools. Noise levels were monitored at 41 preparatory and secondary schools in Gaza, Palestine. Trends were compared among schools and with the world health organization (WHO) standards as well. Student’s blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and pulse rate were recorded for (432) students, (184 male /248 female). The readings were taken before and after exposure to noise at schools’ environment for at least four hours, where the age of these students were between (13-17) years. In order to investigate the effect of noise on the student’s blood pressure, pulse rate and performance, an experiment was conducted on two groups of students, the first was controlled group and the second was trial. In this study, two devices were used, the sound level meter, and the mercurial pressure device. T-test was performed to investigate correlation among the variables. The results show that the noise levels range from 49.0 to 67.5 dB, where Bashir Rayes Secondary Girls School had the highest level of noise while Kafr Qasim Secondary Girls School had the lowest level of noise. The results showed also that there is a positive correlation between noise exposure and the students blood pressure, pulse rate and achievement.