The effects of aircraft noise exposure on objective sleep quality: The results of the DEBATS study in France

Abstract

Background Noise in the areas near airports is considered as a public health issue. Exposure to aircraft noise has been shown to have adverse effects on health and particularly on sleep. Sleep disturbances are the most investigated health effects related to environmental noise. Many studies support that noise at night can affect subjective and objective sleep quality. If habituation to noise can be observed for subjective sleep quality, no habituation has been shown with objective sleep quality. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of aircraft noise on sleep quality with objective measurements at home. No such studies have been performed around French airports. Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between aircraft noise exposure and objective sleep quality in the population living near airports in France. Methods Our study includes 112 people living around Paris-CDG and Toulouse-Blagnac airports. Actimetric measurements were performed during eight nights to objectively evaluate the sleep quality of the participants in terms of sleep onset latency, wake time, total sleep time and sleep efficiency. Simultaneously, acoustic measurements were performed inside and outside (at the facade) the participants’ bedroom in order to measure aircraft noise levels. Thus, integrated (that is related to energetic average for a given period of time) as well as noise event indicators (that is the number of events that exceeds a given threshold) were estimated. Logistic regression models taking into account measurements repetition were used with adjustment for potential confounders: age, gender, marital status, education and body mass index (BMI). Results and discussion Integrated indicators as well as noise event indicators were significantly associated with objective sleep quality. Increased levels of aircraft noise or increased numbers of aircraft noise events increased time to fall asleep, total wake time and decreased sleep efficiency. Unexpectedly, noise indicators also increased total sleep time, time in bed and delayed get up time. These latter results can be interpreted as an adaptation mechanism to sleep deprivation. If a deterioration of the sleep quality has been observed with an increase in time to fall asleep and in total wake time, a process of recovery and sleep maintenance has been shown with an increase in total sleep time. Noise event indicators have been shown to be more often associated with sleep disturbances than integrated indicators. Increased numbers of noise events during the sleep period have been found to degrade objective sleep quality. Conclusion The present study is the first one to investigate the effects of aircraft noise exposure around French airports on sleep quality evaluated with objective measurements. The findings contribute to the overall evidence suggesting that aircraft noise exposure at nighttime may decrease objective quality of sleep. Aircraft noise exposure affects objective sleep quality whatever the type of noise indicators. In front of this nuisance, adaptation mechanisms to sleep deprivation could be observed.