Results of monitoring of noise and air quality in feeder areas at various proximities to freeways for matched groups of school children

Abstract

Community noise levels throughout feeder areas serving 16 grammar schools in the Los Angeles County School District were monitored in order to determine the environmental noise exposure experienced by 3rd and 6th graders in socioeconomically matched groupings. Schools for this study were selected such that the noise environments for one‐half of the feeder areas would be largely controlled by freeway traffic noise. Noise monitoring at school sites within each feeder area was also conducted. Additionally, indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring was conducted on a rotational basis during December 1978 and January 1979 at each school site. Estimates of each feeder area's relative air quality have been extrapolated from the school studies which were in turn correlated to South Coastal Air Basin air quality data. Community noise levels, based upon approximately 350 site days of monitoring, are presented along with each feeder area's socioeconomic and ethnic population descriptors. The influence of freeway proximity on environmental noise levels and ambient air quality is discussed.