By Ko Dong-hwan
Tourists' hotspot Jeju Island has a plenty of noise pollution hazards, according to the local environment research authority on Sunday.
More than half of 35 spots tested for noise registered decibels above the safety level, according to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Institute of Environment.
The test sites ranged from commercial districts to residential districts and areas near hospitals and schools.
The noisiest areas were near to roads, hospitals and schools.
In Jeju City, 63 percent of roadside areas recorded decibels exceeding the safety limit by 1 to 6 A-weighted decibels.
In other areas, 58 percent registered average noise levels above the safety levels by 2 to 19 A-weighted decibels.
The A-weighted scale, among other scales including B-weighted and C-weighted, is the most commonly used for measuring loud noise.
Seogwipo City recorded the biggest noise pollution on the island, with 67 percent of its roadside areas exceeding the safety levels by 2 to 8 A-weighted decibels. The other 43 percent also violated the safety levels.
Noise is an environmentally influenced hazard from elements including vehicle traffic volume on roads, human traffic volume around commercial areas, and construction sites.
"Areas with a particularly high rate of noise need to be controlled by stronger regulations," an environment research official said. These regulations should include "improving road surfaces, redistributing traffic to other areas, and warning drivers who honk or speed fast."
The research took into account noise pollution for the second half of this year.
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Visitors to Jeju Island may not find things so tranquil because noise in many areas exceeds safety levels. / Yonhap |
More than half of 35 spots tested for noise registered decibels above the safety level, according to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Institute of Environment.
The test sites ranged from commercial districts to residential districts and areas near hospitals and schools.
The noisiest areas were near to roads, hospitals and schools.
In Jeju City, 63 percent of roadside areas recorded decibels exceeding the safety limit by 1 to 6 A-weighted decibels.
In other areas, 58 percent registered average noise levels above the safety levels by 2 to 19 A-weighted decibels.
The A-weighted scale, among other scales including B-weighted and C-weighted, is the most commonly used for measuring loud noise.
Seogwipo City recorded the biggest noise pollution on the island, with 67 percent of its roadside areas exceeding the safety levels by 2 to 8 A-weighted decibels. The other 43 percent also violated the safety levels.
Noise is an environmentally influenced hazard from elements including vehicle traffic volume on roads, human traffic volume around commercial areas, and construction sites.
"Areas with a particularly high rate of noise need to be controlled by stronger regulations," an environment research official said. These regulations should include "improving road surfaces, redistributing traffic to other areas, and warning drivers who honk or speed fast."
The research took into account noise pollution for the second half of this year.