The impact of different types and levels of construction noise on physiological responses: Focusing on standardization and habituation

Abstract

Construction noise is a pervasive and influential source of stress for urban residents and can lead to various health problems, including hormonal dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Despite considerable research on the general impact of urban noise, studies that specifically address physiological responses to construction noise are limited. This study explores the relationship between different types of construction noise (tonal and impulsive) and physiological responses, focusing on electrodermal activity (EDA) at varying decibel levels (40, 60, and 80 dBA). The experimental results demonstrated that the z-score standardization method excels in EDA analysis in response to construction noise, particularly showing that noise levels significantly affect the phasic EDA of subjects exposed to tonal noise. Additionally, it was found that EDA responses recorded during the initial 30 s decisively influenced the subjective rating of annoyance. These results highlight the importance of considering both noise type and exposure duration in managing construction noise to mitigate its negative impacts on urban residents. This study can provide practical implications for urban planning, potentially minimizing complaints from urban residents and the impact of construction noise on communities.