Survey Results of a Pilot Sleep Study Near Atlanta International Airport.

Sarah Rocha,Michael G Smith,Maryam Witte,Mathias Basner

doi:10.3390/ijerph16224321

Sarah Rocha, Michael G Smith + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224321

Copy DOI

Abstract

Aircraft noise can disturb the sleep of residents living near airports. To investigate potential effects of aircraft noise on sleep, recruitment surveys for a pilot field study were mailed to households around Atlanta International Airport. Survey items included questions about sleep quality, sleep disturbance by noise, noise annoyance, coping behaviors, and health. Of 3159 deliverable surveys, 319 were returned (10.1%). Calculated outdoor nighttime aircraft noise (Lnight) was significantly associated with lower sleep quality (poor or fair; odds ratio (OR) = 1.04/decibel (dB); p < 0.05), trouble falling asleep within 30 min ≥1/week (OR = 1.06/dB; p < 0.01), and trouble sleeping due to awakenings ≥1/week (OR = 1.04/dB; p < 0.05). Lnight was also associated with increased prevalence of being highly sleep disturbed (OR = 1.15/dB; p < 0.0001) and highly annoyed (OR = 1.17/dB; p < 0.0001) by aircraft noise. Furthermore Lnight was associated with several coping behaviors. Residents were more likely to report often or always closing their windows (OR = 1.05/dB; p < 0.01), consuming alcohol (OR = 1.10/dB; p < 0.05), using television (OR = 1.05/dB; p < 0.05) and using music (OR = 1.07/dB; p < 0.05) as sleep aids. There was no significant relationship between Lnight and self-reported general health or likelihood of self-reported diagnosis of sleep disorders, heart disease, hypertension or diabetes. Evidence of self-reported adverse effects of aircraft noise on sleep found in this pilot study warrant further investigation in larger, more representative subject cohorts.

Highlights

Postal surveys are a useful tool for investigating attitudes towards environmental noise in communities exposed to aircraft noise [1]
With increasing nocturnal aircraft noise exposure, Lnight, there were significant increases in the following outcomes: sleep disturbance by aircraft noise, annoyance by aircraft noise, likelihood of rating overall sleep quality as “bad” or “fairly bad”, trouble falling asleep within 30 min at least once a week, trouble sleeping at night due to nocturnal awakenings or waking too early in the morning at least once a week, and trouble staying awake during the daytime at least once a week
The results showed that nighttime aircraft noise was associated with sleep disturbance and annoyance, worse subjective sleep, and the adoption of sleep aids to mitigate the effects of noise on sleep

Summary

Introduction

Postal surveys are a useful tool for investigating attitudes towards environmental noise in communities exposed to aircraft noise [1]. Aircraft noise is often a significant source of annoyance to residents living near airports [1,2]. If attitudes towards aircraft noise amongst affected communities are changing, this may imply a similar shift in sleep disturbance from aircraft noise. Sleep disturbance is a common concern for residents living near airports. When sleep is restricted on a chronic basis, it has been associated with many negative long-term health outcomes, such as increased risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes [7]. It is thought that sleep disturbance caused by environmental noise may have similar long-term health implications [9,10].

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion