Analiza natężenia dźwięku w czasie lekcji i przerw w Szkole Podstawowej nr 49 w Krakowie / Analysis of sound intensity during lessons and school breaks at Primary School No. 49 in Cracow

Abstrakt

Noise, understood as unpleasant and unwanted sounds, accompanies people ‘at every turn’. Noise can have a negative impact on our health if we stay too long and too often at places where sound intensity is higher than the advisable value. This can lead to headaches, disturbed concentration, irritation and general body fatigue. Places particularly exposed to the effects of arduous (increased) sound intensity are those permanently or temporarily occupied by children and youths, such as schools.

This article presents the measurements of sound intensity taken at Primary School No. 49, bearing the name of Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, located in Cracow. The measurements were made using a sound level meter during selected lessons (early-school education, Polish, and music) as well as school breaks (with primary-school and middle-school students). The highest values of sound were found during the music lesson, which was due to the form of conducting the classes (singing, playing instruments). The lowest sound intensities occurred during the Polish language lesson, due to the fact that the students were working individually on a task that they had been given. At that time, the value of 38,3 dB was recorded, which was close to the background value – 40,5 dB.

During the school breaks, most of the measured values of sound intensity were in the range of 70–85 dB, characterized by decreased efficiency of work, headache and possible hearing damage. The highest values of sound intensity were recorded during school breaks with students of younger grades, which is a result of greater liveliness and activeness of young children compared to older ones.

Sound intensities of more than 85 dB, dangerous to children’s health and causing permanent hearing damage, occurred sporadically during the school breaks and lessons, therefore, it should be considered that the acoustic situation at Primary School No. 49 is suitable for students and does not pose any risk to them.