ASSESSING NOISE LEVELS, LAND USE DIVERSITY AND WELLBEING IN SELECTED NEIGHBOURHOODS OF BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

Residential noise pollution has become a growing environmental challenge. While residential noise pollution could have adverse effect on health and social wellbeing, little attention has been directed towards investigating the impact of noise pollution on their quality of life and the implications of land-use planning. This study aims to assess the sources and levels noise, the implications land-sue on noise levels and the possible impacts of noise on the wellbeing of residents’ within two selected residential neighbourhoods of Benin City metropolis. Sound meters were used to determine the noise levels within selected spots in the neighbourhoods while structured questionnaires were used to elicit information from residents on demographic and neighbourhood characteristics, sources of noise, perceived effects of noise pollution and residential land-mix. Sixty-six participants were randomly selected from Government Reserved Area (GRA) and Ogbe quarters of Benin City. The data obtained were analyzed both for descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the two residential neighbourhoods, the highest mean noise level (85.80dB) was recorded at Ogbe area while the lowest (50.10dB) was at GRA area. Based on World Health Organization (WHO) 16-hour DNL criteria of 55dB for residential areas, only 11 (14.5%) locations in the 76 spot readings in the residential neighbourhood had noise values that were within the recommended limit. There is no significant difference in the noise levels in the two neighbourhood groups, however, the difference in sources of noise were found significant (p=0.000) for noise levels between areas. Ordinal regression analysis also shows that impact of noise on overall wellbeing of residents’. The study concludes that there is a need for formulation and enforcement of permissible noise levels/standards for residential neighbourhoods by the Federal Ministry of Environment, in addition, noise mapping, appropriate land use and zoning strategies could offers veritable tool for noise mitigation.