An Assessment of Noise Pollution Levels and Health Perceptions in Owerri Urban, Imo State

Noise pollution in Nigerian urban centres arises from a confluence of road traffic, power generator operations, commercial activities, and construction, creating ambient sound environments that exceed permissible standards and affect the health and well-being of urban residents. This study assesses noise pollution levels and associated health perceptions in Owerri Urban, Imo State, the commercial and administrative capital of Imo State in the South East zone. Noise level measurements were conducted using a calibrated sound level meter at 35 monitoring points across commercial, residential, traffic corridor, and mixed-use zones during daytime and night-time monitoring windows. Equivalent continuous noise levels and peak noise values were compared against World Health Organisation and Federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. A questionnaire survey of 180 residents assessed subjective noise disturbance, sleep disruption, and perceived health effects. Findings reveal that 82 percent of daytime commercial zone measurements exceed the 65 dB(A) permissible limit, with highest levels recorded adjacent to generator-reliant commercial clusters and motor parks. Night-time measurements in residential areas near commercial zones exceed the 55 dB(A) guideline at 63 percent of sites. Health perception surveys document high prevalence of self-reported sleep disturbance, irritability, and difficulty concentrating among residents near high-noise areas. The study recommends noise zoning regulations, incentives for commercial uptake of quieter inverter systems over conventional generators, and establishment of acoustic monitoring by the Imo State Environmental Protection Agency. Keywords: noise pollution, urban health, Owerri, generator noise, environmental guidelines.