Noise annoyance from different sources in young adults

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the adverse effects of community noise on health and the response to noise exposure in residential areas of Bratislava. The study quantifies the exposure to different environmental noise sources as well as the social noise exposure in the sample of university students. The validated methodology according to ICBEN and the Ohrkan study was used. The measurement of ambient noise levels was done using hand-held sound level analyzer. There were 837 university students (256 males), average age 23.09 ± 2.23, enrolled into the study so far; 267 in the housing facility exposed to road traffic noise ( L Aeq = 67.6 dB) and 570 in the control one ( L Aeq = 53.4 dB). From the total sample 79.2% students reported the use of personal music players (PMP) in the last week in the average time of 293 minutes. There was a significant difference between the duration and frequency of listening to PMP between the exposed and the control group. There was not significant difference between the duration of time spent at activities with high noise exposure. The results of the study showed the importance of road traffic noise and the social noise for health as well and the need for a preventive action.