Effects Of Aircraft Noise Research Articles

The effect of aircraft noise on the mental health of a community sample: a pilot study.

Results of the investigation of a sample of size N = 200, half of whom live in the vicinity of a main airport, are reported. Three health indicators were examined: (1) annoyance reactions measured with a scale which did not include symptoms; (2) a symptom score, obtained with a screening instrument which identifies possible psychiatric cases; and (3) confirmed psychiatric cases identified with a traditional diagnosis after an interview by a psychiatrist. Noise was undoubtedly associated with annoyance. An association between noise and psychiatric measures was only present in a subgroup of respondents of high education. There was a marked association between annoyance and psychiatric measures. An attempt was made to clarify the nature of this relationship. Hypersensitivity to noise was associated with a high frequency of psychiatric symptoms and should be considered among the high risk factors for psychiatric illness.

Annoyance and acceptability judgments produced by 32 aircraft noise conditions

The varying effects of aircraft noise and human response variables on annoyance responses were measured in a major laboratory study of 384 subjects. About half of all variance in annoyance is explained by level and spectrum of noise, type of subject's activity, and real environment exposures. Level of noise accounts for 30% of all variance and 60% of all explained variance. Type of subject's activity accounts for 12% and his type of real environment exposure accounts for 8% of explained variance. Annoyance under TV viewing and listening was greater than under rest and relaxation. Residents normally exposed to lower levels of aircraft noise were more annoyed by noise than residents living closer to the airport and regularly exposed to higher noise levels. The correlation between Leq and 1536 annoyance judgments was r = 0.53, with each unit of annoyance on a 0–9 scale associated with 6.25 units of Leq. One experimental condition which included full retrofit of 747s and 727s and replacement of noisy 707s by quieter L‐1011s, was still found unacceptable by two‐thirds of subjects for close level exposures.

IX. Health effects of exposure to noise, commentary on a research program.

The results of experimental and epidemiological studies on health effects of (aircraft) noise are commented upon. It is suggested that hypertension as effect of exposure to aircraft noise for several years is brought forward especially by an effect on diastolic blood pressure in repeated long-term exposure. It is discussed why one may not conclude to the same effects in case of traffic noise without further research to be carried out.

VII. Medical effects of aircraft noise: drug survey.

In two villages in the vicinity of Schiphol airport the consumption of certain drugs was studied over the years 1967–1974 by means of purchase data of the pharmacies. The drugs studied were hypnotics, sedatives, antacids (on prescription) and cardiovascular drugs. One of the villages had no serious problem with aircraft noise; the other village initially had no aircraft noise, from 1969 much aircraft noise (NNI > 35) and in 1973–1974 aircraft noise only during daytime and practically none in the night. It appeared that in the control village the purchase of the drugs mentioned, had hardly increased or had not increased at all. In the noisy village the purchase of hypnotics and sedatives had increased in the period after the beginning of aircraft noise, and decreased again, when the number of night flights was diminished. As to antacids on prescription, in a period of six years the purchase had gradually increased to twice the initial amount; the increase continued during the years, when there was almost no aircraft noise during the night. For cardiovascular drugs a similar trend was found; this appeared to be particularly due to the increased purchase of antihypertensive agents: also an increase to twice the initial amount.

V. Medical effects of aircraft noise: community cardiovascular survey.

Data of a community cardiovascular survey in the area around Schiphol airport (Amsterdam) were related to existing aircraft noise levels. About 6,000 people (men and women, aged 35–64 years) were screened. Afterwards the participants were divided into two groups: those living in areas with more (NNI > 37) and those living in areas with less (NNI = 20–37) aircraft noise. It appeared that in areas with more aircraft noise, more people were under medical treatment for heart trouble and hypertension and — especially more women — took cardiovascular drugs. Moreover, in areas with more aircraft noise in more people high blood pressure and pathological heart shape were observed. The discrepancies that were found could not be explained by age, sex, smoking habits, height/weight, and — as far as this could be checked — by socio-economic differences. In areas with more aircraft noise roughly 50% more people had cardiovascular impairment.

VIII. Medical effects of aircraft noise: Review and literature

The results of the available epidemiological studies on medical effects of aircraft noise are combined and discussed. It appears that the results support each other. The conclusion is drawn that aircraft noise, as prevalent around many airports, constitutes a very serious threat to public health in all its aspects: affection of well-being, mental disorders, somatic symptoms and diseases (especially cardiovascular diseases). A recommendation is given for the protection of the population in the vicinity of airports: the aircraft noise should not exceed NNI = 20.

VI. Medical effects of aircraft noise: general practice survey.

An impression was obtained of the relation between aircraft noise and the contact rate with the general practitioner. Nineteen general practitioners working in three villages in the vicinity of Schiphol airport, registered during one week from all their patients age, sex, address, reason of contact (diagnosis) and the use of certain drugs. It appeared that in areas with NNI > 33 the total contact rate was higher. The practitioner was more confronted (compared to NNI < 20: roughly 2–3 times as often in the NNI = 45–55 area) with more or less serious psychological problems and with psychosomatic symptoms such as low back pain and spastic colon. Striking was also the high contact rate for cardiovascular diseases in the noisiest area, especially for persons aged 15–64 years. For the total number of doctor-patient contacts the use of certain drugs was studied. This indicated that in areas with more aircraft noise the use of sedatives and hypnotics, and for female patients also the use of antihypertensive agents, was higher.

The policy problems and economics of aircraft noise

The paper discusses the role of economics in decisions which affect aircraft noise, for example decisions on airport development or on land uses around airports. Methods of measuring the effects of aircraft noise and of costing them are analysed. Major policy options and economic analysis of them are discussed. Finally, suggestions for further research and improved policies are made.

Investigation of the trade-off effects of aircraft noise and number

This paper describes a laboratory study which investigated the trading relationship between aircraft noise level and number of events. The method developed for making judgments over periods of time and the experimental design, were such that data could be interpreted in terms of Scandinavian, UK and USA social survey results. Basic findings were that the form of the trading relationship was complex, and that more emphasis seemed to be placed on the number correction the higher the number of aircraft movements. Although cumulative noise indices such as L eq (dB(A)) or NEF provide the best overall statistically significant central tendency measures, they tend to conceal the true nature of the number dependence. The form of this relationship could not be exactly quantified, as extension of the study to include lower rates of aircraft movement would be necessary.

A review of health effects of aircraft noise

A review of health effects of aircraft noise

Effects of aircraft noise on the mental work of pupils : Ando, Y., Nakane, Y., and Egawa, J.Journal of Sound and Vibration, 1975, 43.4, 683–691; abstr in Building Science Abstracts

Effects of aircraft noise on the mental work of pupils : Ando, Y., Nakane, Y., and Egawa, J.Journal of Sound and Vibration, 1975, 43.4, 683–691; abstr in Building Science Abstracts

Studies on the effects of aircraft noise in the experimental expoture to the acclimatized and the non-acclimatized students to the noise.

Studies on the effects of aircraft noise in the experimental expoture to the acclimatized and the non-acclimatized students to the noise.

Effects of jet aircraft noise on mental hospital admissions.

We study, in the vicinity of Los Angeles International Airport, the effect of jet noise on mental hospital admissions. The maximum noise area (where the maximum fly-over noise exceeds 90 dBA) shows a 29% increase in admissions over those of a corresponding control area, as like the target area as possible, except that in the control area jet noise is not a dominant factor. The results are similar to those of a previous study carried out near Heathrow Airport.

Effect of jet aircraft noise upon [formula omitted] adrenocortical response to ACTH in feral [formula omitted

Paired adrenals from feral male Mus musculus trapped from fields adjacent to the Memphis (TN) International Airport and from suitable control areas were incubated in the presence or absence of ACTH. Incubation media were assayed fluorometrically for corticosterone. Control animals exhibited lower basal secretion rates of corticosterone when compared to their noise exposed counterparts. However, ACTH elicited a significantly greater increase in corticosterone secretion in controls as compared to the noise exposed group. The data suggest a noise related decline in adrenal cortical responsiveness to ACTH.

Effects of aircraft noise on the mental work of pupils

In order to examine the effects of aircraft noise on the mentality of growing children, a simple search task and an adding task were applied to 1144 elementary school pupils who live around an airport, and in a quiet area, under the conditions of no stimulus sound, and jet noise stimulus 90 ± 5 dB(A) respectively. The result was that children from relatively noisy living areas tended, when performing tasks, to show occasional short periods in which they produced substantially less than their own average rate of work. A similar difference did not appear when working in noisy rather than quiet conditions, and it was considered to be something chronic about the children themselves. These results were independent of the sex of the subjects and the feelings of the subjects about aircraft noise.

Effects of aircraft noise on man

The Deutsche Forschung sqemenschaft and study of airport noise is reviewed, some further results are included. The study, which considered sociological, psychological and physiological impacts, also describes statistical and analytical methods.

Studies of the Effects of Aircraft Noise causing Mental

Studies of the Effects of Aircraft Noise causing Mental

The effects of aircraft noise in schools around London airport

The effects of aircraft noise on teaching and classroom activity were studied in a number of schools close to Heathrow Airport, both by direct observation and by a small sample survey of teachers' opinions. The principal changes in observed behaviour result from interference with speech and this finding corresponds with the survey of teachers' opinions. The study was unable to identify any other consistent or systematic changes in class activities directly related to aircraft noise. Teachers speaking to whole classes pause more frequently with increasing peak levels over a wide range of flyover levels. Since they pause during at least one flyover in four of those which peak at or above 70 dB (A) one may assume such flyovers cause appreciable discomfort. When talking to individuals or small groups teaching is less vulnerable to interference and is not seriously affected during flyovers which peak below 75 dB (A). Above this level there is a rapid increase in pausing and in the masking of the teacher's speech when addressing the whole class. The nuisance caused by flyovers peaking below 70 dB (A) depends on the nature of the activities and the level of background noise in the classrooms which was observed to vary between 55 and 70 dB (A).

The psycho-social consequences of aircraft noise

The paper describes and compares various methods of investigating the social disamentity caused by aircraft noise. These methods include social surveys,the analysis of complaints, and direct observation. Each has practical, political and statistical advantages and disadvantages. The effects of aircraft noise are also discussed and the conclusion is drawn that if social pressure continues to be applied, the technologists can and will quieten aircraft engines.

Awakening effects of simulated sonic booms and aircraft noise on men and women

In the course of several studies, 22 male and female subjects, ranging in age from 5–75 years, have been stimulated while asleep by simulated sonic booms (ranging in intensity from 0·6 to 5·0 lb/ft 2 (239·5 N/m 2), as if measured out of doors at ground level) and by indoor recordings of subsonic jet flyover noise (ranging in intensity from 101 to 119 PNdB, as if measured out of doors). The summarized results of these studies suggest that (i) children (5–8 years of age) are uniformly unaffected by noise during sleep; (ii) older subjects are more sensitive to noise than younger subjects; (iii) women are more sensitive to noise during sleep than are men; (iv) within an age group, individuals may vary widely with respect to their relative sensitivities to noise during sleep; and (v) the frequency of behavioral awakening is a function of the intensity of both the simulated sonic booms and the subsonic jet flyover noise.