Studies on Community Noise in a Japanese Inland Middle-sized City

-2. Effects of Community Noise on School-

Abstract

Effects of community noise on school was surveyed in middle-sized city T, situated in the south-central part of Gunma Pref., with the following results : 1) All of fifty schools in this city tend to be found in zones where main traffic roads are crossing, and they are consequently exposed mainly to traffic noise, which is relatively great. It is necessary in planning the future development of the city to give priority to securing adequate school environment. 2) Fifteen schools were chosen form relatively noisy zones, and the noise at a point on the border of school site was mostly greater than the average noise for the communtiy. The median value of noise ranged 60-69 dB for 2 shools, and 70 dB and over for 3 schools. All of these schools face a main road of heavy traffic. 3) Complaint by the high school student against noise from the outward was stronger the nearer the school house was to the road. As the source of noise, the truck and dumpcart were most incriminated, followed by the propaganda car, auto-bicycle and personal car in the descending order. In schools, relatively far apart from the road, the propaganda car was the chief target of complaint. This means the displeasure on?ethe meaninf ul noise'. The countermeasures are needed against these situations.