International Journal of Engineering, Science and Mathematics (UGC Approved) Vol. 6 Issue 5, September 2017, ISSN: 2320-0294 Impact Factor: 6.765 Journal Homepage: http://www.ijesm.co.in , Email: ijesmj@gmail.com Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories Indexed & Listed at: Ulrich's Periodicals Directory ©, U.S.A., Open J-Gage as well as in Caďell’s DireĐtories of Puďlishing Opportunities, U.S.A *Corresponding author <abbasi.cpee@gmail.com> #Concurrently Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Fire Protection Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA. 1 International Journal of Engineering, Science and Mathematics http://www.ijesm.co.in , Email: ijesmj@gmail.com AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS IN AN INDUSTRIALIZED SUBURB OF CHENNAI, INDIA by Tasneem Abbasi # , and S. A. Abbasi * Center for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India Abstract Year-round survey of ambient noise levels monitored at eight locations in Manali, Chennai, are presented. The study area is distinguished by the presence of a cluster of several industries called the Manali Industrial Complex. The cluster includes a large petroleum refinery and several downstream industries. Densely populated residential and commercial localities, besides sensitive institutions like hospitals and schools co-exist with the industries in the area. The survey reveals that ambient noise levels are higher than the statutory limits for most of the time during the day. 1. Introduction Ambient noise is known to be a chronic stresser but it constitutes a dimension of environmental pollution which has been studied with much lesser intensity than other forms of pollution (Abbasi, 1999). In an attempt to cover this knowledge gap a long-term study on ambient noise prevailing in a typical industrialized suburb has been carried out. 1.1 The study area The studies pertain to the area of Manali, a Northern suburb of the Chennai metropol is (Figure I). The area houses Manali Industrial Complex which incorporates a large petroleum refinery - the Madras Refineries Limited (MRL), now known as Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) - and several major downstream petrochemical industries (Figure I). The industries exist shoulder to shoulder with residential colonies, shops, hospitals, schools and various public amenities. In many ways Manali Industrial Complex typifies the way Industrial growth has occurred in India - industries have either come up in very close proximity with densely populated neighborhoods or townships have grown around industrial establishments to take advantage of the opportunities of employment and commerce that arise due to the industrial activity. By either mechanism, distinction between designated industrial areas and residential-commercial localities often gets quite blurred. This can have tragic consequences of catastrophic proportions, as has happened at Bhopal (Abbasi and Abbasi, 2005) and elsewhere (Abbasi and Abbasi, 2007 a, b, c; 2008; Tauseef et al. , 2011 a, b, c) .