Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000, the ambient noise limits for a designated SILENCE ZONE (within 100 metres of a hospital, school or court) are:

• A 65 dB during day and 55 dB during night
• B 55 dB during day and 45 dB during night
• C 50 dB during day and 40 dB during night ✓
• D 45 dB during day and 35 dB during night

Explanation

D silence zone is an area comprising not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions, courts and religious places. The prescribed limits there are 50 decibels by day (6 AM to 10 PM) and 40 decibels by night (10 PM to 6 AM). These equal the limits of the residential zone minus 5 dB. Residential areas themselves carry 55 dB day and 45 dB night, which makes option B the tempting distractor.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.