Noise levels associated with urban land use types in Kigali, Rwanda

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10653
• Publication Date: 2022-09-16T04:28:07Z
• Authors: Egide Kalisa; Elisephane Irankunda; Eulade Rugengamanzi; Mabano Amani
• Keywords: Noon; Decibel; Environmental Noise

Noise pollution poses a serious threat to public health and continues grow in extent, frequency, severity due the rapid population growth urbanization, this is of particular concern developing countries such as Rwanda. However, data on noise levels, laws regulations are, however, lacking We assessed effect land-use type during two-month period at nine sites: three commercial sites, passenger-car parking two road junction one reference site (Car-Free Zone) collected weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) Weekends (Saturday Sunday) morning (7h00-10h00), around noon (11h00-14h00), evening (15h00-18h00). The mean levels were higher (60-80) A-weighted decibels (dB) (A)) than weekends (50-70 dB (A)). recorded lowest level Kigali car-free zone (34.4 highest Nyabugogo parks (111.2dB Spatial variation interpolated for City shows (hotspot) outskirts Kigali, Remera Kimironko. exceeded World Health Organization permissible daytime limits both all types except site. Our results indicate that residents are exposed high noise, urgent development monitoring programs control measures Rwanda required.