Road traffic noise exposure and annoyance in two large cities in Slovakia

Abstract

Backgroud. Environmental noise has attracted widespread attention in recent decades as a major environmental health concern. In Slovakia, the rapid development in traffic density connected with the economic transformation since 1990 has brought new problems in relation to environmental noise, particularly road traffic noise. Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of environmental noise on the psychosocial well-being of young healthy individuals in the two largest Slovak urban agglomerations Bratislava and Kosice and to assess and to compare noise annoyance as the most prevalent community response. Methods. The validated ICBEN methodology was used to assess noise annoyance, interference with activities and sleep disturbance; noise levels were objectified by direct measurement using sound level analyzer with a module for frequency analysis. The source population in Bratislava (533 respondents, 155 males) and Kosice (355 respondents, 111 males) who filled the anonymous validated “Noise annoyance questionnaire was composed of young adults in the age category from 20-30 years old. Results. The results showed that in both cities most of the subjects were in the medium noise exposure category (LAeq, 24h=≥ 60 dB). In Bratislava there were 27.82 % of respondents in the higher noise exposure category (LAeq, 24h =≥ 70 dB) and in Košice there were 39.9 % of respondents in the lower noise exposure category (LAeq, 24h=≥ 50 dB). Traffic noise annoys respondents especially in the higher noise exposure category in Bratislava (63.51 %) and interferes with reading and mental work, sleep and falling asleep even in the lower noise exposure category in Kosice (46.51 %). Conclusion. This study has shown the traffic noise as the environmental problem in large cities and emphasizes the need of protection of the possible vulnerable groups, especially during night-time.