Abstract
Environmental noise is known to cause noise annoyance. Since noise annoyance is a subjective indicator, other mediators—such as noise sensitivity—may influence its perception. However, few studies have thus far been conducted on noise annoyance in South Korea that consider noise sensitivity and noise level simultaneously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between noise sensitivity or noise level and noise annoyance on a large scale in South Korea. This study estimated the level of noise exposure based on a noise map created in 2014; identified and surveyed 1836 subjects using a questionnaire; and assessed the impact of transportation noise and noise sensitivity on noise annoyance. The result showed that noise exposure level and noise sensitivity simultaneously affect noise annoyance, and noise sensitivity has a relatively larger impact on noise annoyance. In conclusion, when study subjects were exposed to a similar level of noise, the level of noise annoyance differed depending on the noise sensitivity of the individual.
Highlights
Environmental noise is defined as “unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities” [1]
The results of the correlation analysis between noise sensitivity, noise level, and noise annoyance to transportation noise showed that the correlation coefficient between noise sensitivity and noise annoyance was 0.39 (p < 0.001) while the correlation coefficient between noise level and noise annoyance was 0.20 (p < 0.001), each of which showed a positive correlation
After the characteristics of the four combination groups were analysed, we found that the average age was higher in the two high noise sensitivity groups than the two low noise sensitivity groups (p = 0.019)
Summary
Environmental noise is defined as “unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities” [1]. This includes transportation noise caused by airplanes, automobiles, or trains; neighbourhood noise; and leisure noise [2]. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on such health problems as tinnitus, cardiovascular disease, child cognitive disabilities, sleep disorder, and noise annoyance in 2011 [3]. Among those health problems, noise annoyance is defined as “a feeling of displeasure caused by noise” [4]. Since noise annoyance is a subjective indicator, it is affected by the level of noise exposure, and by
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