Assessment of Noise Levels in Domestic Kitchen of Urban Areas of Jorhat City

Abstract

Environmental parameter mainly noise has a profound effect on human performance, efficiency and efficacy. Noise is an invisible indoor environmental factor that affects the quality of life and productivity of the workers in cooking activity. The present study on assessment of noise level in domestic kitchen of urban areas of Jorhat city was proposed to assess noise level in the kitchen during cooking and to study the relationship between dependent and independent variables. A purposive cum random sampling method was adopted for the study. From Jorhat city 56 numbers of households were selected randomly and women who take part in cooking is unit of enquiry for the purpose of the study. Both interview and observation methods were used for the collection of data on noise level. Noise level-meter is an instrument used for measurement of noise level. Chi square test was done to identify the relationship between variables. The findings showed that the average noise level was found to be 64.70 dB which is more than the permissible or acceptable level of noise (55 dB). The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between noise with brand name of the kitchen chimney (‘p’=0.041*). Majority of the respondents were not aware about congenial kitchen environment and noise created by chimney in the study area. Conducive kitchen environment is very important to improve work performance and reduction of health hazards.