Effects Of Aircraft Noise Exposure Research Articles

Effects of aircraft noise exposure on self-reported health through aircraft noise annoyance: Causal mediation analysis in the DEBATS longitudinal study in France.

Previous studies reported an association between transportation noise and self-reported health status (SRHS). They also suggested a mediating role of noise annoyance using conventional statistical methods. These methods are subject to bias in longitudinal studies with time-dependent exposure, mediator and confounding factors. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of aircraft noise annoyance in the effect of aircraft noise on SRHS using a causal inference approach to address time-dependent variables issues. We used data from 881 participants in all three visits in the DEBATS longitudinal study conducted around three French airports. Participants over 18 years of age reported their self-perceived health status, aircraft noise annoyance, and noise sensitivity by completing a questionnaire at three visits in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Noise maps were used to estimate aircraft noise levels outside their homes. Marginal structural models with inverse probability weighting were used to estimate the total effect of aircraft noise levels on SRHS and its decomposition into direct and indirect effect through aircraft noise annoyance. This study showed a deleterious effect of aircraft noise on SRHS. The odds ratio (OR) corresponding to the total effect and comparing the highest aircraft noise category (≥60 dBA) to the reference category (<50 dBA) was significant (ORpoor/fair_SHRS = 1.25 (95%CI: 1.06 to 2.08)). It also showed no direct effect of aircraft noise levels on SRHS, but an indirect effect through annoyance. This indirect effect increased as aircraft noise levels increased, with a statistically significant OR when comparing the highest noise category (≥60 dBA) to the lowest (<50 dBA) (ORpoor/fair_SHRS = 1.16 (95%CI: 1.03 to 1.52)). Nearly 66% of aircraft noise's effect on SRHS was mediated by aircraft noise annoyance. This study supports the deleterious causal effect of aircraft noise on SRHS. The results highlight the important mediating role of aircraft noise annoyance in the causal pathway from exposure to aircraft noise to poor/fair SRHS.

Long-Term Effects of Aircraft Noise Exposure on Vascular Oxidative Stress, Endothelial Function and Blood Pressure: No Evidence for Adaptation or Tolerance Development.

Transportation noise is recognized as an important cardiovascular risk factor. Key mechanisms are noise-triggered vascular inflammation and oxidative stress with subsequent endothelial dysfunction. Here, we test for adaptation or tolerance mechanisms in mice in response to chronic noise exposure. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to aircraft noise for 0, 4, 7, 14 and 28d at a mean sound pressure level of 72 dB(A) and peak levels of 85 dB(A). Chronic aircraft noise exposure up to 28d caused persistent endothelial dysfunction and elevation of blood pressure. Likewise, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation as determined by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and HPLC-based measurement of superoxide formation in the aorta/heart/brain was time-dependently increased by noise. Oxidative burst in the whole blood showed a maximum at 4d or 7d of noise exposure. Increased superoxide formation in the brain was mirrored by a downregulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (Nos3) and transcription factor Foxo3 genes, whereas Vcam1 mRNA, a marker for inflammation was upregulated in all noise exposure groups. Induction of a pronounced hearing loss in the mice was excluded by auditory brainstem response audiometry. Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation were present during the entire 28d of aircraft noise exposure. ROS formation gradually increases with ongoing exposure without significant adaptation or tolerance in mice in response to chronic noise stress at moderate levels. These data further illustrate health side effects of long-term noise exposure and further strengthen a consequent implementation of the WHO noise guidelines in order to prevent the development of noise-related future cardiovascular disease.

A meta-analysis of the association of aircraft noise at school on children's reading comprehension and psychological health for use in health impact assessment

Whilst the effects of aircraft noise on children's cognition are well-accepted, their application in Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and methodologies to monetise the effects of noise on health have been limited. This paper presents the first meta-analysis of the effect of aircraft noise at school on children's reading comprehension and psychological health assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Data from three methodologically similar studies carried out in 106 schools near London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Madrid Barajas airports (the Schools Environment and Health Study, the West London Schools Study, and the RANCH study) were analysed finding that a 1 dB increase in aircraft noise exposure at school was associated with a −0.007 (95%CI −0.012 to −0.001) decrease in reading score and a 4% increase in odds of scoring well below or below average on the reading test. The analyses also found that a 1 dB increase in aircraft noise exposure at school was associated with a 0.017 (95%CI 0.007–0.028) increase in hyperactivity score. No effects were observed for emotional symptoms, conduct problems or Total Difficulties Score. Meta-analyses confirm existing evidence for effects of aircraft noise exposure on children's reading comprehension, providing a pooled estimate and exposure-effect relationship, as well as additional estimates and relationships for effects on scoring ‘well below or below average’ on the reading test offering flexibility for taking reading comprehension into account in HIA and monetisation methodologies in a wide-range of contexts.

Pharmacological activation of AMPK prevents aircraft noise induced oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation

BackgroundAircraft noise exposure is responsible for the emergence of oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and induction of vascular inflammatory response leading to cardiovascular complications like heart attacks and strokes. The AMP‐dependent‐Kinase (AMPK) has important protective roles in the vasculature especially in situations of oxidative stress and vascular inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the activation of AMPK using daily AICAR injections as a preventive strategy against noise induced destructive effects.Methods and ResultsAICAR (5‐Aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide‐1‐β‐D‐ribofuranoside; =AMP analog) was used for stimulation of AMPK activity and administered daily by intraperitoneal injections (200 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. After 3 days AICAR pre‐treatment, the C57BL/6j mice were exposed to aircraft noise (maximum sound level of 85 dB(A), average sound pressure level of 72 dB(A)), which does not impair hearing significantly.We could show that aircraft noise exposure lead to a significant endothelial dysfunction, which was significantly improved by AMPK activation by AICAR. In addition, we observed that AICAR administration was able to normalize the aircraft noise induced blood pressure increment. Similarly, noise exposure induced oxidative stress as well as in whole blood samples was reduced by AICAR administration. Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress is often correlated with vascular inflammation processes. Induction of an inflammation (MCP‐1, PAI‐1, IL‐6) by aircraft noise exposure was abrogated using AICAR injection in the vasculature and brain. Furthermore, we could show that aircraft noise exposure induces circadian rhythm dysregulation, which can be reduced by AICAR administration.ConclusionWe here present novel data of AMPK activation with AICAR as a protective strategy against negative effects of aircraft noise exposure. Our data suggest that activation of AMPK might be a future therapeutic strategy to prevent traffic noise‐induced cardiovascular complications.Support or Funding InformationGerman Research Foundation ‐ Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Voluntary exercise as a preventive strategy against aircraft noise induced cardio/cerebrovascular damage

BackgroundSeveral experimental studies found transportation noise to be associated with oxidative stress‐induced vascular damage, mediated by activation of the NADPH oxidase, uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and vascular infiltration with inflammatory cells. Furthermore, we could show that the AMP‐dependent‐Kinase (AMPK) is involved in the signaling processes leading to exercise‐mediated vascular protection. In the present study, we investigated the activation of AMPK during voluntary exercise as a preventive strategy.Methods and ResultsWild type (WT) mice were exposed to aircraft noise (maximum sound level of 85 dB(A), average sound pressure level of 72 dB(A) for 4 days after 6 weeks of voluntary exercise. We could show that 4 days noise exposure lead to a significant endothelial dysfunction accompanied by and significant increase in oxidative stress. The voluntary exercise training for 6 weeks resulted in a marked improvement of noise induced endothelium dysfunction and activation of ROS sources (NADPH oxidases). The beneficial effects of exercise training in the vasculature are accompanied by improvement of cerebral oxidative stress due to NADPH oxidases (NOX‐1, NOX‐2) and cerebral inflammatory responses (VCAM‐1, PAI‐1, COX‐2, MCP‐1). Transportation noise is disrupting gene expression patterns of circadian rhythm but we could show that exercise training is able to reestablish aortic circadian clock gene expression in noise exposed wild type mice.ConclusionWe here present novel data on exercise training as a protective strategy against negative effects of aircraft noise exposure by conferring AMPK activation. Our data suggest that exercise training might be an attractive mitigation strategy to protect the general population from noise‐induced cardiovascular damage. Especially patients at high cardiovascular risk could benefit from supervised exercise training to prevent additive cardio/cerebrovascular damage in response to transportation noise exposure.Support or Funding InformationGerman Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) DFG

Prolonged exposure to noise pollution causes an increase in inflammatory signaling in the setting of hypertension

Hypertension is the most important risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. The development of hypertension is multifactorial and determined by dietary, environmental, and genetic factors, complicating the characterization and treatment of the disease. We have previously established development of hypertension and an increase in inflammatory parameters following acute noise exposure [Münzel et al. Eur Heart J 2017; Kröller‐Schön et al. Eur Heart J 2018], a feature that were also observed in angiotensin II induced hypertension [Wenzel et al. Circulation 2011]. For the first time, we here aimed to characterize the effects of noise exposure and subsequent chronic stress in mice with pre‐established hypertension in order to determine the degree of overlap in the mechanistic pathways. In order to accomplish this, we treated C57Bl/6J mice for 7 days with angiotensin II, aircraft noise, or both. A cumulative worsening was evident in the hypertension plus noise group over hypertensive‐only and noise‐only controls. Expression of CD68, MCP‐1, VCAM‐1 and IL‐6 mRNA in the aorta showed an increase in chemoattraction as a consequence of noise exposure in hypertensive animals. A similar trend was seen in cortical tissue of the animals, where hypertensive noise‐exposed mice had the highest expression of IL‐1β and IL‐6 mRNA as well as heightened levels of astrocyte activation. Heightened levels of MCP‐1 and IL‐6 were confirmed on the protein level in aortic tissue via western blot analysis and dot blot analysis, respectively, indicating that noise exacerbates the inflammatory phenotype seen in hypertension systemically. FACS of aortic tissue of hypertensive noise‐exposed animals revealed an additional invasion of neutrophils, inflammatory monocytes, and T cells into the aorta upon noise exposure when compared to noise‐only and hypertension‐only controls. To identify the role of these inflammatory monocytes, LysMCre iDTR mice were injected for 10 days with diphtheria toxin, resulting in a specific ablation of LysM+ cells. These mice were mostly protected from the detrimental inflammatory effects induced by noise exposure, including VCAM‐1 expression in the aorta and also from the hypertension resulting thereupon, indicating monocytes have a critical role in the onset of noise‐induced hypertension.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by a vascular biology research grant from the Else‐Kröner‐Fresenius Foundation for “Noise and arterial hypertension” (2017_A106 to S.S.) and from the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation for the collaborative research group ‘Novel and neglected cardiovascular risk factors: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications’ to study the effects of aircraft noise exposure on vascular function and oxidative stress (A.D., S.S., and T.M.). K.Fra. is recipient of a career development award of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. T.M. is PI of the DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Rhine‐Main, Mainz, Germany

Explaining the impact of environmental risk factors on cardiovascular health by the “exposome” concept

There is growing evidence that environmental risk factors (pollution and non‐chemical stressors) contribute to the global burden of cardiovascular, metabolic and mental disease. Clinical and epidemiological studies support that traffic‐associated environmental risk factors, air pollution and noise exposure, are associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and significantly contribute to overall mortality. According to the results of the Lancet Commission on pollution and health, up to 9 Mio global annual deaths can be attributed to environmental pollution [Landrigan et al., Lancet 2018]. The numbers will rather increase in the future, because of increasing urbanization and continuous refinement of global exposure‐mortality models, which is supported by the recently reported global all‐cause mortality rate attributable to ambient air pollution by PM2.5 and O3 of 8.79 Mio [Lelieveld et al. and Münzel, Eur Heart J 2019]. Air pollution is obviously the leading health risk factor in the physical environment, followed by water and soil pollution with heavy metals, pesticides, other chemicals and occupational exposures. However, non‐chemical environmental health risk factors such as mental stress, light exposure, climatic changes and traffic noise are so far ignored by global health action plans. Especially for traffic noise‐related health effects there are numerous clinical and epidemiological studies reporting significant impact on cardiovascular disease. In this respect, the “exposome” concept represents a comprehensive description of lifelong exposure history and a rather novel scientific field that is now investigated more systematically. We here provide an in‐depth overview on the health effects of the external exposome, with emphasis on air pollution and traffic noise, and briefly present the actual studies on this topic. In addition, we summarize our previously published experimental research investigating effects of aircraft noise exposure in mice and men providing mechanistic insights on how noise contributes to non‐communicable disease.Support or Funding InformationThe present work was supported by the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation “Novel and neglected risk factors” (to A.D. and T.M.).The exposome concept. The external exposome represents the sum of all environmental exposures including behavioral/ lifestyle factors. The external exposome (e.g. mental stress and environmental pollution) confer changes of the internal exposome (e.g. altered circadian clock by forward/backward shift, stress hormones, inflammation and oxidative stress) leading to health risks and disease conditions (e.g. atherosclerosis, vascular stenosis and myocardial infarction). BJP, submitted.Figure 1

Saliva cortisol in relation to aircraft noise exposure: pooled-analysis results from seven European countries

BackgroundMany studies have demonstrated adverse effects of exposure to aircraft noise on health. Possible biological pathways for these effects include hormonal disturbances. Few studies deal with aircraft noise effects on saliva cortisol in adults, and results are inconsistent.ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the effects of aircraft noise exposure on saliva cortisol levels and its variation in people living near airports.MethodsThis study focused on the 1300 residents included in the HYENA and DEBATS cross-sectional studies, with complete information on cortisol sampling. All the participants followed a similar procedure aiming to collect both a morning and an evening saliva cortisol samples. Socioeconomic and lifestyle information were obtained during a face-to-face interview. Outdoor aircraft noise exposure was estimated for each participant’s home address. Associations between aircraft noise exposure and cortisol outcomes were investigated a priori for male and female separately, using linear regression models adjusted for relevant confounders. Different approaches were used to characterize cortisol levels, such as morning and evening cortisol concentrations and the absolute and relative variations between morning and evening levels.ResultsStatistically significant increases of evening cortisol levels were shown in women with a 10-dB(A) increase in aircraft noise exposure in terms of LAeq, 16h (exp(β) = 1.08; CI95% = 1.00–1.16), Lden (exp(β) = 1.09; CI95% = 1.01–1.18), Lnight (exp(β) = 1.11; CI95% = 1.02–1.20). A statistically significant association was also found in women between a 10-dB(A) increase in terms of Lnight and the absolute variation per hour (exp(β) = 0.90; CI95% = 0.80–1.00). Statistically significant decreases in relative variation per hour were also evidenced in women, with stronger effects with the Lnight (exp(β) = 0.89; CI95% = 0.83–0.96) than with other noise indicators. The morning cortisol levels were unchanged whatever noise exposure indicator considered. There was no statistically significant association between aircraft noise exposure and cortisol outcomes in men.ConclusionsThe results of the present study show statistically significant associations between aircraft noise exposure and evening cortisol levels and related flattening in the (absolute and relative) variations per hour in women. Further biological research is needed to deepen knowledge of the pathway between noise exposure and disturbed hormonal regulation, and specially the difference in effects between genders.

P4478Noise pollution exacerbates the development of arterial hypertension via additive oxidative stress and impairment of NO signaling

Abstract Background Environmental noise pollution has been identified as a cardiovascular risk and is characterized by moderate hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, increased oxidative stress, and inflammation. We have gained insights into the mechanism by which these consequences occur by exposing mice lacking the critical NADPH oxidase subunit gp91phox to aircraft noise. Mice were protected from the effects of aircraft noise exposure. NADPH oxidase is believed to be the mediator by which angiotensin II increases oxidative stress, making investigation into the additive effect of noise and hypertension an important subject in modern cardiovascular health research. Methods and results C57Bl/6J mice were implanted with subcutaneous osmotic mini-pumps, delivering a moderate dose of 0.5mg/kg/d of angiotensin II for 7 days. Immediately following the implantation, half the mice were exposed to aircraft noise for 7 days at a maximum sound pressure level of 85 dB(A) and a mean sound pressure level of 72 dB(A), a level at which hearing loss does not occur*. Non-invasive blood pressure measurements revealed an additive increase in blood pressure in noise-exposed hypertensive mice. Following sacrifice, endothelial dysfunction was evaluated through isometric tension recordings of 3mm aortic ring segments. These recordings support the blood pressure measurements and indicate a more serious impairment in acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation in hypertensive mice exposed to noise than the hypertensive or noise only controls. Whole blood stimulated with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) or zymosan A showed an additive increase in oxidative burst in in noise-exposed hypertensive mice. Dihydroethidium (DHE) staining was used to assess the presence of vascular and cerebral oxidative stress, showing similar additive effects in mice with hypertension plus noise exposure. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurement of 2-hydroxyethidium further confirmed additive increase of oxidative stress in the aorta and brain. Western blot analysis of aortic tissue revealed highest levels of gp91phox in mice with hypertension plus noise exposure and indicated a decrease in the ratio of P-eNOSSer1177:eNOS as well as a decrease in the ratio of eNOS dimer:monomer, exposing eNOS uncoupling as a potential pathomechanism for endothelial dysfunction and gp91phox as a source for the oxidative stress.Ongoing immunohistochemical and flow cytometric investigations will characterize the role of immune cells in these adverse effects. Conclusion Herein, we present novel data demonstrating additive noise-induced cardiovascular consequences on developing hypertension. Noise has previously been established as a cardiovascular risk factor, but the effects have not been determined in pre-existing or developing cardiovascular disease. Our results show a cumulative effect between noise exposure and hypertension and forge an important link between environmental stressors and cardiovascular health. Acknowledgement/Funding Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation

The "exposome" concept - how environmental risk factors influence cardiovascular health.

There is general consensus that environmental pollution and non-chemical stressors contribute to the incidence and prevalence of chronic noncommunicable disease (e.g. cardiovascular, metabolic and mental). Clinical and epidemiological studies support that air pollution and traffic noise are associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and significantly contribute to overall mortality. In this respect, the "exposome" provides a comprehensive description of lifelong exposure history. A recent publication using an updated global exposure-mortality model found that the global all-cause mortality rate attributable to ambient air pollution by PM2.5 and O3 was 8.79 (95% CI 7.11-10.41) million in 2015 - much higher than previously calculated. For Europe this corresponds to 790,000 premature deaths due to ambient air pollution. Various large scale studies and expert commissions have identified air pollution as the leading health risk factor in the physical environment, followed by water and soil pollution with heavy metals, pesticides, other chemicals and occupational exposures, however neglecting the non-chemical environmental health risk factors: mental stress, light exposure, climatic changes and traffic noise. Especially for traffic noise-related health effects there are numerous clinical and epidemiological studies reporting significant impact on cardiovascular disease. We here provide an in-depth review on the health effects of the external exposome, with emphasis on air pollution and traffic noise and to a lesser degree mental stress and other environmental pollutants. In addition, we summarize our previously published experimental research investigating effects of aircraft noise exposure in mice and provide mechanistic insights on how noise contributes to noncommunicable disease.

Effects of Aircraft Noise Exposure on Heart Rate during Sleep in the Population Living Near Airports.

Background Noise in the vicinity of airports is a public health problem. Many laboratory studies have shown that heart rate is altered during sleep after exposure to road or railway noise. Fewer studies have looked at the effects of exposure to aircraft noise on heart rate during sleep in populations living near airports. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the sound pressure level (SPL) of aircraft noise and heart rate during sleep in populations living near airports in France. Methods In total, 92 people living near the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Toulouse-Blagnac airports participated in this study. Heart rate was recorded every 15 s during one night, using an Actiheart monitor, with simultaneous measurements of SPL of aircraft noise inside the participants’ bedrooms. Energy and event-related indicators were then estimated. Mixed linear regression models were applied, taking into account potential confounding factors, to investigate the relationship between energy indicators and heart rate during sleep measured every 15 s. Event-related analyses were also carried out in order to study the effects of an acoustic event associated with aircraft noise on heart rate during sleep. Results The more the SPL from all sources (LAeq,15s) and the SPL exceeded for 90% of the measurement period (LA90,15s) increased, the more heart rate also increased. No significant associations were observed between the maximum 1-s equivalent SPL associated with aircraft overflight (LAmax,1s) and differences between the heart rate recorded during or 15 or 30 s after an aircraft noise event and that recorded before the event. On the other hand, a positive and significant association was found between LAmax,1s and the heart rate amplitude calculated during an aircraft noise event. Results were unchanged when analyses were limited to participants who had lived more than five years in their present dwelling. Conclusion Our study shows that exposure to the maximum SPL linked to aircraft overflight affect the heart rate during sleep of residents near airports. However, further studies on a larger number of participants over several nights are needed to confirm these results.

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

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.

Effects of aircraft noise exposure on saliva cortisol near airports in France

BackgroundSaliva cortisol is a possible marker of noise-induced stress and could then mediate the relation observed between exposure to aircraft or road traffic noise and cardiovascular diseases. However, the association...

Longitudinal effects of aircraft noise exposure on children's health and cognition: A six-year follow-up of the UK RANCH cohort

Cross-sectional evidence that environmental noise exposure at school shows negative associations with children's cognition and health has increased, yet longitudinal evidence is lacking. This study examined longitudinal associations of aircraft noise exposure at primary school on children's reading comprehension, noise annoyance, and psychological health at secondary school. This six-year follow-up of 461 children aged 15–16 years, who attended primary and secondary schools around London Heathrow airport, used annual average aircraft noise exposure at the schools from noise contour maps. Multilevel regression modelling showed that aircraft noise exposure at primary school was associated with a significant increase in noise annoyance and with a non-significant decrease in reading comprehension at follow-up. Aircraft noise at primary school was not associated with psychological health at follow-up. This is the first longitudinal study of its type, suggesting that aircraft noise exposure at school might impair reading comprehension, as well as increase noise annoyance in children.

The long-term effects of aircraft noise exposure on children's cognition: findings from the UK RANCH follow-up study

Many studies have demonstrated that environmental noise exposure at school is associated with poorer reading ability. However, studies have yet to determine the long-term consequences of environmental noise exposure during school for later developmental outcomes. This paper presents a longitudinal follow-up of the UK RANCH cohort assessing whether aircraft noise exposure in primary school is associated with poorer reading comprehension in secondary school. The original RANCH study found a relationship between aircraft noise exposure at primary school and children's reading comprehension for 9-10 year old children attending schools around London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol and Madrid Barajas airports. Six years after the original study, 461 participants aged 15-16y (48% of the UK baseline sample) completed a standardised reading test during group testing in their classroom. Aircraft noise exposure at school was assessed using Leaq16 contour data. Analyses found no significant effect of aircraft noise exposure at primary school or secondary school on reading comprehension assessed at secondary school, although there was a trend for both types of noise exposure to be associated with poorer reading comprehension. The study is limited by its small sample but the findings indicate that aircraft noise exposure at school could have long-term implications for children's cognitive development.

The Effects of Aircraft Noise Exposure upon Hearing Loss, Anxiety, and Depression on Subjects Residing Adjacent to a Military Airbase

Objectives: To determine the level of aircraft noise exposure and how it relates to hearing loss, and to investigate the association between noise exposure and anxiety and depression in subjects residing adjacent to a military airbase. Methods: The study was conducted upon 898 inhabitants between the ages of 30-79, living near the military airbase in Jeonra-do. The subjects were divided into three noise-exposure groups: high-exposure, low-exposure, and a control group. The cut-values were 80 and 60 on the Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level scale. A self-administered questionnaire including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were completed. Pure tone audiometry tests were performed. Results: Hearing loss prevalence was defined by a >40 dB loss in bilateral ears or in one ear; the difference of <15 dB compared to the better side was 30.8%. The mean BAI/BDI score was 18.9± 14.3/18.7±11.6, the number of abnormal subjects with BAIs ≥22 was 317 (35.3%), with BDIs ≥21 was 347 (38.6%). The pure tone average, BAI, and BDI scores were higher in the noise-exposure groups compared to the control. The BAI/BDI abnormal subjects showed a higher hearing threshold shift level compared to the normal scored subjects. The odd ratios for anxiety was significantly high in both noise exposure groups and the hearing loss, for depression was significantly high in high-exposure group and hearing loss. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression were higher when exposure to high-level noise and further complicated by hearing loss. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause-effect relationship.

The impact of aircraft noise exposure on South African children′s reading comprehension: The moderating effect of home language

Given the limited studies conducted within the African continent, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of chronic aircraft noise exposure and the moderating effect of home language on the learners' reading comprehension. The sample comprised 437 (52%) senior primary learners exposed to high levels of aircraft noise (Experimental group) and 337 (48%) learners residing in a quieter area (Control group). Of these, 151 learners in the Experimental group spoke English as a first language (EFL) and 162 spoke English as a second language (ESL). In the Control group, the numbers were similarly divided (EFL n = 191; ESL n = 156). A univariate General Linear Model was used to investigate the effects of aircraft noise exposure and language on reading comprehension, while observing for the possible impact of intellectual ability, gender, and socioeconomic status on the results. A significant difference was observed between ESL and EFL learners in favor of the latter (F 1,419 = 21.95, P =.000). In addition a substantial and significant interaction effect was found between the experimental and control groups for the two language groups. For the EFL speakers there was a strong reduction in reading comprehension in the aircraft noise group. By contrast this difference was not significant for the ESL speakers. Implications of the findings and suggestions for further research are made in the article.

Cardiovascular effects of environmental noise: Research in Sweden

In Sweden, as in many other European countries, traffic noise is an important environmental health issue. At present, almost two million people are exposed to average noise levels exceeding the outdoor national guideline value (55 dB(A)). Despite efforts to reduce the noise burden, noise-related health effects, such as annoyance and sleep disturbances, are increasing. The scientific interest regarding more serious health effects related to the cardiovascular system is growing, and several experimental and epidemiological studies have been performed or are ongoing. Most of the studies on cardiovascular outcomes have been related to noise from road or aircraft traffic. Few studies have included railway noise. The outcomes under study include morning saliva cortisol, treatment for hypertension, self-reported hypertension, and myocardial infarction. The Swedish studies on road traffic noise support the hypothesis of an association between long-term noise exposure and cardiovascular disease. However, the magnitude of effect varies between the studies and has been shown to depend on factors such as sex, number of years at residence, and noise annoyance. Two national studies have been performed on the cardiovascular effects of aircraft noise exposure. The first one, a cross-sectional study assessing self-reported hypertension, has shown a 30% risk increase per 5 dB(A) noise increase. The second one, which to our knowledge is the first longitudinal study assessing the cumulative incidence of hypertension, found a relative risk (RR) of 1.10 (95% CI 1.01 - 1.19) per 5 dB(A) noise increase. No associations have been found between railway noise and cardiovascular diseases. The findings regarding noise-related health effects and their economic consequences should be taken into account in future noise abatement policies and community planning.

The effects of aircraft noise exposure on rat behavior and serum neurotransmitter expression

In order to investigate the physiological effects of airport noise exposure on organisms, in this study, we exposed Sprague-Dawley rats in soundproof chambers to previously recorded aircraft-related noise for 36 days. For comparison, we also used unexposed control rats. Noise was arranged according to aircraft flight schedules and was adjusted to its weighted equivalent continuous perceived noise level (LWECPN) of 75 dB and 80 dB for the two experimental groups. We examined rat behavior through open field experiments and measured the concentrations of serum neurotransmitters (norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) by high performance liquid chromatography-fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD). Our results showed that rats that were exposed to airport noise of 80 dB spent more time in the central part of the open field, the number of cross-lattices they crossed reduced significantly (P<0.05), and their frequency of grooming and defecation increased significantly (P<0.05), compared to control animals. The concentrations of serum NE of experimental groups were higher than that of the control group, and a dose-effect relationship was seen between NE concentration and the intensity of noise exposure. On the contrary, serum 5-HT concentrations of the experimental groups were always lower than that of the control group.

Effects of Aircraft Noise on Children's Mental Health: Data from the Health Survey of Inhabitants in the Vicinity of Gunsan Airport

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of aircraft noise exposure on children’s mental health problems such as depression and personality. Methods: We obtained data from the health examinations of school children in the vicinity of Gunsan airport. This survey was conducted in the rural area, Gunsan during 2009. The study population included 195 children attending 4th to 6th grade from 6 elementary schools near the airport. Based on 60 Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level (WECPNL) measures of aircraft noise, participants were divided into 2 groups; the exposure group consisted of 106 children from 4 schools, and the reference group included 89 children from the 2 schools in Gunsan. All children completed questions on general characteristics, the Korean Children's Depression Inventory (KCDI) for depression, and the Korea Human Nature Inspection (KHNI) for personality. Results: Children in the exposure group were at higher risk of depression (5.62, 95% CI 1.12~28.25), and personality changes (2.08, 95% CI 1.07~4.05) than those of the reference group. In particular, children's diligence, cooperation, and concentration, subgroups of personality measure, were affected significantly and negatively, by aircraft noise level. Conclusions: Our results suggest that exposure to aircraft noise at school is associated with mental health problems in children. Requirements should be implemented to manage aircraft noise of its affect on children's health.