Noise Analysis On Small Scale Food Grinding Machines

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The ability of man to make and detect sound offers him the opportunity to communicate and receive valuable information from the environment, namely; sound alarm, music, television and others. Noise generated from industrial use of machinery, airplanes, trucks, pumps, turbines generator, steam traps and others should be differentiated from those of the community or local market places. The major sources of community noise are highway traffic, aircraft, construction work, and distribution of transformer, railway trains, and factories from which noise escape to the surrounding areas [1] and that of the local market are the grinding machines used in the markets for business purposes. On noise studies, more emphasis is placed on the negative effects, that is, the pollution aspects. Noise can keep our senses on edge and thus can prevent us from relaxing. Our mental powers control this insults to our bodies resulting into deafness over a long period of time. Also as an insidious pollutant, damage is usually long range and permanent, yet it is certainly the pollutant of least public concern and perhaps the least understood [2].
In most cases, especially in these studied sites the grinding machines were almost located or mounted in front of residential houses, markets or shops. There is no enough distance between the operators and the machines. There is direct transmissions and accumulations of noise doses to the operators.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Noise pollution is the emission of continuous undesirable noises disrespecting legal levels which, within a specific period of time, pose a threat to human health and collective well-being. Noise may be described as aperiodic acoustic signals originated from the overlap of several vibration movements with different, unrelated frequencies.
Noise has been increasing over the years, specifically in large metropolitan areas. This increase is also perceived inside public places such as market. Different noises originated from distinct sources, such as the operation of different devices and conversation among grinder cause noise pollution in the Ado-ekiti environment and this may affect the individual’s physical and emotional health2.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noise may influence individuals’ professional performance and quality of life, as it interferes with sleep, communication, and causes physiological and psychological reactions that are, most times, considered health problems3.
The body perceives the exposure to noise as a stressful situation, responding to it with an increase in seric levels of adrenaline and cortisol, which may interfere with the recovery of a hospitalized patient. On the other hand, an environment with adequate sound levels provides the patient with lower levels of psychological stress and physiological damage, leading to a speedier recovery4.
A study has identified that 34.0% of ado-ekiti sources of noise are completely avoidable and 28.0% are partially avoidable. The authors also state that physical solutions may reduce 48.0% of the sources of noise, and team training may reduce 14.0% of these sources5.

1.2 AIM OF THE STUDY
The main aim of this work is to analyze the effect of noise of four different machines such as pepper grinding, cassava grinding machines, flour mill grinding machines and tomato grinding machine. All these machines are seen and used in Ado-Ekiti environment and markets on daily basis.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
At the end of this work, students involved shall be able:
i. To understand the meaning of noise
ii. To know the effect of noise on human health
iii. To analyze the noise level of the four machines used in this work
iv. To calculate noise power

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
To assess the noise level in different machines of Ado-Ekiti market and to analyze its effects on people from reporting complaints.

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Increasing demand for goods due to population growth, national and international competition and developing technology result in intensive machine usage. Increasing usage of machinery may cause noise pollution in our environment and may adversely affect residents, leading to physiological and psychological problems. Recently, environmental regulations have become widespread, due to increasing environmental awareness. Such laws include the regulation of workplace noise levels and measures necessary to protect mankind from the effects of excessive noise. This study examines the noise levels in a plant manufacturing corrugated board. Noise measurements were conducted at production line locations and management departments throughout the machines selected.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Measuring noise levels and people’s noise exposures is the most important part of a workplace hearing conservation and noise control program. It helps identify work locations where there are noise problems, residents who may be affected, and where additional noise measurements need to be made.

1.7 JUSTIFICATION OF THE WORK
With the advent of modern technologies, noise pollution from instruments and machines and other technological advances like internal combustion engines, a bus or helicopter and aircraft in general have become a major threat to the quality of our lives. These instruments and machines are used by human beings, but various studies have shown that if the noise level is far in excess of that required for the optimum arousal level for a particular task, works become irritable as well as less efficient[3]. This irritability usually continues for sometime after the noise has stopped.
Noise pollution is a global problem that is marked by the relentless inversion every corner of the world’s environment. The degree of the noise pollution is as a result of the frequent increase in sophistication of the machinery, which replaces manual labour in our industries. The noise produced by these industries varies according to their process technology, size, and nature of products, characteristics and complexity [4]. However, the resulting noise generation by this factory machinery at alarming level into the environment must not therefore be condoled, as it is an intrusion of unwanted nuisance. Scientific evidences available on noise pollution report the consequences of noisy environment as hazardous and detrimental to human health.