title: Evaluation of noise pollution in urban parks.
abstract: The present study provides an evaluation of noise pollution in six Urban Parks located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Equivalent noise levels (L(eq)) were measured in 303 points (each point measured during 3 min) spread throughout the Parks. Measured values were confronted with local legislation (Law 10625) allowed limits, and the Parks were thus classified as "acoustically polluted or unpolluted". Measured values were also evaluated according to international legislation: Decree no. 12 of the City Council of Rome, DIN 18005 for German cities, the World Health Organization, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Urban parks in the downtown area of Curitiba, surrounded by roads of heavy traffic and in the midst of intense commercial activities, do not satisfy any of the standards used. The most noise-polluted parks in Curitiba were the Public Walk Park and the Botanical Garden Park, with measured L(eq) of 64.8 dB(A) and 67 dB(A).
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Acústica Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Centro Politécnico, Bairro Jardim das Américas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, CEP: 81531-990, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. zannin@demec.ufpr.br
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Trombetta
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Zannin
authors.forename: Andressa Maria Coelho
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Bani
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szeremetta
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002947:Cities; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D009622:Noise; D011998:Recreation