Acoustic mapping of hospital noise pollution and its health implications: a case study from South-South Nigeria.

Abstract

Noise pollution in healthcare environments is increasingly recognized as a critical environmental stressor, yet it remains underexplored in many low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed and mapped indoor and outdoor noise levels at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Edo State, Nigeria, to quantify exposure and identify spatial patterns of acoustic risk. Noise measurements were obtained using a digital sound level meter (Smart Sensor AS284), while spatial coordinates were recorded with a GPS device (Etrex 22). Data were interpolated and visualized using ArcGIS 10.2 to produce geospatial noise maps. Results showed that mean exterior noise levels ranged from 54.16–67.74 dBA in the morning to 53.96–70.83 dBA in the evening, while interior levels ranged from 55.12–64.10 dBA in the morning to 49.67–66.17 dBA in the evening. All measured points exceeded both the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) daytime limit of 45 dBA and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended threshold of 35 dBA for healthcare facilities. Geospatial mapping revealed the highest noise intensities at the hospital’s main entrance, largely attributable to high-density vehicular traffic and human activity. Elevated noise exposure within the hospital environment poses risks of stress-related outcomes such as hypertension, sleep disruption, and cognitive fatigue among patients and staff. The findings underscore the urgent need for acoustic interventions, including improved hospital design, noise management policies, and behavioral modifications, to align Nigerian healthcare facilities with international standards for healing environments. This study contributes empirical evidence to the global discourse on environmental health and hospital sustainability.