Excessive noise could cause miscarriage – Environmental Officer

Excessive noise could cause miscarriage among pregnant women and also raise the blood pressure of some people thereby bringing about cardiovascular diseases.

This was disclosed by the New Juaben Municipal Environmental Officer, Mr Bechesani Demuyakor, at a forum on noise pollution organized by the New Juaben Municipal branch of the Governance Issues Forum (GIFNET), in Koforidua on Thursday.

It is being sponsored by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG).

Mr Demuyakor accused some religious organizations, corn millers, distributors of recorded musical cassettes, shops and mourners at funerals as major sources of noise pollution in the Municipality.

He identified the lack of instrument in the Municipal Assembly for measuring the noise levels, politicization of issues and lack of effective support by the police and the judiciary service as some of the challenges that hinder effective implementation of the bye laws of the Assembly on noise pollution.

Ms Jemilatu Yaoo, of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said in May this year the outfit received complaints about noise pollution which necessitated a workshop to be organized for the various religious organizations in the municipality.

The participants at the end of the workshop, called for more public education to create awareness on the dangers of excessive noise to help reduce the health hazards associated with it.

Source: GNA