Noise Pollution
There are negative health effects which will be experienced by members of a community due to noise pollution (Goines and Hagler, 2007). Noise pollution due to elevated sound levels cause problems like hearing impairment; sleep disturbances; reduced task performance; cardiovascular disturbances; mental health disturbances; stress; and anger (EPA, 2012). Impaired hearing occurs as a result of an increase in hearing threshold when assessed by audiometry (Goines and Hagler, 2007). Hearing loss is caused by trauma to the stereocilia in the cochlea of the ear (EPA, 2012). By having a night club in a residential area, especially with its management having a history of no concern for residents, the residents may suffer from trauma to the cochlea which will cause hearing loss which is irreversible. Cardiovascular problems result from anger from loud noise which causes increased levels of adrenaline which constrict blood vessels (vasocostriction) or due to stress.
Before granting an approval to the night club I would recommend a number of restrictions before approving it. First, I would pay special attention to the volume and bass of the entertainment to ensure that they do not go above recommended levels (EPA, 2012). This can be enforced by ensuring that the design of the sound systems where maximum sound levels cannot be exceeded despite amplifier settings or where power is cut off if a recommended noise level is exceeded (EPA, 2012). Another factor is that the night club must keep its windows and doors shut so as to contain the noise, but must ensure that there is adequate ventilation for those entertaining themselves within. In addition, equipment like loudspeakers should be kept away from walls near neighbors and should be placed on absorbent materials or acoustic mats to absorb the sound.
Radon Gas
Radon is a radioactive gas found naturally in water, rocks, and soils (Trembley, 2007). The most common isotopes of radon are radon-220 and radon-222 (Trembley, 2007). Radon is produced as part of the decay chain of Uranium-238 (EPA, 2012). Since Radon is an inert gas, it does not react chemically with other chemicals (Trembley, 2007). When radium decays, it produces an alpha particle releasing radon-222 and releasing another alpha article into polonium-218 which eventually turns into stable lead
Figure 1: Radon's Decay Chain
Source: EPA, 2012
Radon is known to cause lung cancer and is especially dangerous because it may collect in large amounts in homes (Trembley, 2007). Radon concentrations in home increase because it seeps from the soil through breaks in the foundation or the slabs (EPA, 2012). When an individual is exposed to radon, it damages sensitive lung tissue despite the levels one is exposed to; though action levels of the gas is considered to be 4 pCI/L, there is no safe level (Trembley, 2007). To reduce radon levels in the home, the first step is to test the house for radon to determine if it is present.
References
Goines L. & Hagler L. (2007). A noise pollution: a modern plague: adverse health effects of health. South Med Journal, 100(3): 287-294
Trembley K., (2007). Radon in the home. Available at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/consumer/09953.html
US Environmental Protection Agency (2012). Noise pollution. Available at http://www.epa.gov/air/noise.html
US Environmental Protection Agency (2012). Radon. Available at http://www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclides/radon.html
