Sound can be defined as atmospheric or airborne vibration perceptible to the ear while noise is an

energy that transmitted by the pressure waves and air as the medium. Noise may be characterised
as a transparent environmental hazard where it is cannot be seen, smelled, touched, removed or
purified (Bistrup et al. 2001). On the other hand, environmental noise has been defined as any
unwanted sound created by human activities that is considered harmful or detrimental to human
health and quality of life (Murphy et al. 2009). However, the noise level was varies depends on
the individual itself, where Florentina (2008), said that generally the noise that has been
produced will influence the human ears sensitivities due to the different frequencies besides that
it is also hazardous due to the duration human exposure to the loudness of the noise.
Consequently, a particular sound can be noise to one person and not to others, or noise at one
time and not at other times (Liu et al. 1999).
Noise pollution is known as continuous noise that is loud enough to be annoying or
physically harmful and also the most important factors that contribute to the psychological stress
factor and hearing impairment. Initially, noise effects apparent at an individual level, but its
becomes a public health concern when the number of people who are also suffered with the same
effect due to the noise where it is also causes hearing problems, disturbs cognitive functions and
reduces well-being, noise becomes a public health concern. Thus, general public and politicians
and administration at the local, national and international levels taking seriously this issue of
noise as a public health issue.
Environmental noise refers only to noise affecting humans and is concerned exclusively
with outdoor sound caused generally by transport, industry and recreational activities (Murphy &
King 2014). Noise pollution is occurs because of vehicles that emit a loud noise that disturb
public order. Among the vehicles that emit a loud sound are airplanes, trains, vehicles,
motorcycles and trucks. The problem of noise from road, rail and air transport is identified as one
of the most urgent areas for action. Besides, construction projects that use a lot of construction
machinery and more airports are also among the other contributors to noise pollution. In the
employment sector, a safe sound level must be ensured to avoid workers having trouble hearing.
However, railway is seen as a means of environmental-friendly transportation by providing clean
and efficient mass transit (Wu 2008). However, even though railway transportation is an
environmentally friendly transportation mode except for its noise impact. The sources of noise

from railway are related with the rolling of the wheel on the rail. There are three types of noise
caused by wheel-rail interaction are rolling, impact and curve squeal (Soeta & Shimokura 2013).
However, noise is release when vibration propagates in the wheel and rail. The vibration of the
wheel and track is caused by the roughness on the wheel and rail tread form excitation. Figure
2.1 shows the noise level of railway for the European commission source of noise from railway.

This section introduces the subject of sound in engineering terms and includes appended
references which provide detailed back-up material. It includes the general principles of sound
production and propagation, a description of the ear and its functions, a description of the effects
of noise on the hearing apparatus and on the person, and an introduction to hearing measurement
and hearing aids