ISSN 0973 – 6921 ; E – ISSN 2319 – 5983 J. Environ. Res. Develop. Journal of Environmental Research And Development Vol. 12 No. 04, April-June 2018 410 ASSESSING THE ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE LEVEL OF JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA Saraswat Punit* 1 and Chouhan G. S. 1. Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences Lachoo Memorial College of Sci & Tech (Autonomous), Jodhpur, (INDIA) 2. Lachoo Memorial College of Sci & Tech (Autonomous), Jodhpur, (INDIA) Received September 29, 2017 Accepted April 17, 2018 ABSTRACT Jodhpur, also called “Sun City”, is the second largest city of Rajasthan, India growing with a fast speed commercially, industrially, and residentially. The exponential growth due to teeming population, increased vehicular traffic, and mushrooming industries has led to many problems including increase in noise levels, which was nonexistent a decade ago. Keeping in view of this fact the present study was undertaken. The noise levels Leq dB (A) were monitored at three sites namely Lachoo memorial college of Science and Technology site, Shastri circle site, and Basni Phase I site – grouped as residential, commercial and Industrial area respectively. The monthly observations were recorded during morning hours ( 8-10AM) , noon hours ( 12-2PM), and evening hour (5-7 PM ) using sound level meter (Envirotech instruments) model SLM 100, taking the readings at an interval of 1min, from September 2017 to November 2017. L10, L90 and noise climate (NC) were also calculated to assess the gravity of noise environment. The maximum noise level recorded at Lachoo memorial college of Science and Technology site was 81.4dB in November 2017 (5-7 PM), at Shastri circle site was 86.7dB in September 2017(5-7 PM ), and was recorded 94.2dB in September 2017 ( 12-2.PM) at Basni Phase I site. The average noise level were found to be more than prescribed limits set by Central Pollution control Board (CPCB 2000) at Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology and Shastri circle sites, for all the three months and all the three recording hours ( 8-10AM ,12-2PM, and 5-7 PM ). At Basni Phase I site only it was observed to be below the prescribed limits set by CPCB in September 2017 (5-7 PM), October 2017 (8-10AM), (12-2.PM), and in November 2017 (8-10AM). Key Words : Noise levels, Sound level meter, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), L10, L90, Noise Climate (NC) INTRODUCTION The word "noise" is derived from the Latin word "nausea" meaning seasickness. Noise can be defined as the level of sound that exceeds the acceptable level and creates an annoyance. Noise is any sound independent of loudness which can produce an undesired physiological or psychological effect on an individual group. Noise is present all around human being and is affecting the wellness at every level. Air and water pollution is mostly talked and taken care of but we pay little attention to the noise pollution which is like a slow poison killing the wellness of humans. We cannot live in a sound proof surrounding but we can at least reduce the noise and reduce the misery caused due to unwanted sound. The influence of excess noise on human body can be due to direct affects upon the auditory system, non-auditory physiological processes and on purely psychological mechanisms. Noise effect includes various impacts on mental and physical health and disturbance of daily activities which may affect sleep, conversation, lead to Perception of annoyance, cause hearing loss, instigate cardiovascular problems as well as affect human judgment and performance 1 Noise pollution causes various degrees of psychological and physiological effects on human health. It directly or indirectly influences our behavior, cognition, mental performance, normal sleep duration and studies of students. Noise, a physical pollutant, is not easily recognized. This is because the sensitivity of human ear gets automatically adjusted to the ambient level of *Author for correspondence