Trends of study in Japan based on "Environmental Noise Guidelines for European Region (2018)"

Abstract

This paper describes the following study conducted by the author on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment in Japan from 2020 to 2021. The WHO Regional Office for Europe published "Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region (2018)" (hereafter referee as to "Guidelines") in October 2018. Compared to the previous guideline (1999), these Guidelines show that Lden and Lnight are used as the index for the recommendations, cardiovascular disease is selected as a critical health outcome for developing recommendations on the health impacts of environmental noise. In Japan, since the publication of the Guidelines (2018), we have discussed the scientific findings presented in the Guidelines and the basis for setting the recommendations, and compared the recommendations with the following Japanese environmental quality standards: noise facing roads, aircraft noise and Shinkansen railway noise. In addition, we investigated the difference in the status of ischemic heart disease between in Japan and in Europe. Based on the stored information, we summarized issues to be discussed in the near future.