Abstract

ROMAN, Gabriela. Evaluation of the environmental noise levels in the urban hull of the city of Tarija. RevActaNova. [online]. 2018, vol.8, n.3, pp. 421-432. ISSN 1683-0789.

Environmental noise has increased considerably in the city of Tarija in recent years, due to economic and population growth. This research Project focuses on the measurement of environmental noise levéis emitted in the urban center of Tarija. It compared environmental noise levels against those permissible by the Atmospheric Contamination regulations. 39% of the measurements taken exceeded 68 dB with oscillating values between 65 and 75 dB. Among the measurements there was a maximum value of 100.9 dB generated by a passing motorcycle, in the vicinity of the courthouse where a large part of the population waits for public transportation. These levels produce marked and severe hearing loss (extremely difficult communication), in addition to long-term hearing loss. The main source of noise pollution recorded during this investigation comes from motorcycles (36%), followed by vehicle horns (34%), which affect the quality of life of pedestrians along the streets of downtown Tarija.

Keywords : environmental noise; noise pollution; urban hull of the city of Tarija; measurement protocol.