Some similarities in community response to aircraft and road traffic noise

Abstract

A Social survey was undertaken in the vicinity of a major air carrier airport. One of the two neighborhoods was exposed to noise due to aircraft operations at about Ldn = 70 dB. The other neighborhood was exposed to road traffic noise at about Ldn = 62 dB. A brief structured interview conducted by telephone revealed a number of similarities in community response to the two noise exposure environments. These included reports of sleep interference and habituation to noise exposure. Differences in observed prevalence of annoyance in the two neighborhoods were attributable to the differences in exposure levels.