Noise Pollution & Contemporary Society: A Systematic Review of Scholarly Literatures and Role of Library & Information Services
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2021.v06.i11.023Keywords:
Noise pollution, environmental health, systematic review, contemporary society, Library and Information Science, environmental literacy, information services, sustainabilityAbstract
Noise pollution has become a significant issue for environmental and public health. Noise pollution disturbs our physical & mental health, social communications, educational consequences, workplace efficiency, and overall quality of life. Rapid urban growth, industrial activities, transportation, loud sound technologies, and higher population density have increased noise issues in societies around the globe. This study aims to review existing literatures on noise pollution and its various impacts on society, placing the issue within the field of Library & Information Science (LIS). The review gathers empirical, theoretical, and policy-focused studies published in journals, conference proceedings, reports, and online repositories. It seeks to identify key themes, research trends, methods used, and gaps in knowledge regarding noise pollution. The relevant literature found in various databases was identified, screened, categorized, and analyzed based on set inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study looks at key aspects of noise pollution, such as environmental sources, health effects, disruptions in education, workplace impacts, urban noise management, legal regulations, community awareness, and effective solutions. It pays special attention to how information is shared, increasing environmental knowledge, raising public awareness, and the role of libraries in promoting understanding of environmental issues. From the perspective of Library & Information Science, the review highlights how libraries, information centres, and digital platforms play a vital role in gathering, organizing, preserving, and sharing environmental information related to noise pollution. Academic, public, school, and special libraries can make valuable contributions through awareness campaigns, environmental information services, bibliographic support, community outreach, information literacy programs, and access to evidence-based resources for researchers, policymakers, students, and community members. In addition, the study points out new opportunities for LIS professionals in managing environmental information, advocacy, and working together on interdisciplinary research. The findings show an increasing amount of international research on noise pollution; however, there has been little focus on the way people seek information, how awareness is built, and the support systems for communication about environmental health. The study concludes that integrating environmental information services into library systems can improve public understanding and lead to informed responses to noise pollution. This systematic review can be a helpful resource for researchers, environmental educators, librarians, policymakers, and public health professionals looking to develop effective strategies for tackling noise pollution and improving access to environmental information.
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