Urban environmental noise pollution has impact on the quality of life
and it is a serious health and social problem. The aim of this study
was to assess the sources and noise levels, and possible impacts in
selected residential neighbourhoods of Ibadan metropolis. Structured
questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents on
demographic and neighbourhood characteristics, sources of noise and
perceived effects of noise pollution. Noise level meter was used to
determine the noise levels. Results showed that noise levels, sources
and the period the noise level reaches its peak vary with population
density and are shown on GIS maps. The mean noise values for the three
residential neighbourhood groups were low density (LD),
53.10±2.80dB; medium density (MD), 68.45± 2.10dB and high
density (HD), 68.36±1.92dB with the medium density neighbourhoods
having the highest mean value. There is a significant difference in the
noise levels in the three neighbourhood groups (F value=11.88 and
p=0.000). However, the difference in noise levels between HD/LD and
LD/MD areas was significant (p=0.000) while that between HD/MD areas
was not significant (p=0.975). Of the three residential neighbourhoods,
the highest mean noise level (85.80dB) was recorded at Bere junction
while the lowest was at the foot of Bowers tower at Oke Are (48.65dB).
Based on WHO 16-hour DNL criteria of 55dB for residential areas, only
16 (23.2%) locations in the three residential neighbourhood groups had
noise values that were within the recommended limit. 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 instead of using the current
eight-hour standard of 90dB which is for industrial settings