Traffic Noise Exposure Research Articles

Exposure to Road Traffic Noise and Behavioral Problems in 7-Year-Old Children: A Cohort Study.

BackgroundExposure to traffic noise has been associated with adverse effects on neuropsychological outcomes in children, but findings with regard to behavioral problems are inconsistent.ObjectiveWe investigated whether residential road traffic noise exposure is associated with behavioral problems in 7-year-old children.MethodsWe identified 46,940 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort with complete information on behavioral problems at 7 years of age and complete address history from conception to 7 years of age. Road traffic noise (Lden) was modeled at all present and historical addresses. Behavioral problems were assessed by the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Associations between pregnancy and childhood exposure to noise and behavioral problems were analyzed by multinomial or logistic regression and adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsA 10-dB increase in average time-weighted road traffic noise exposure from birth to 7 years of age was associated with a 7% increase (95% CI: 1.00, 1.14) in abnormal versus normal total difficulties scores; 5% (95% CI: 1.00, 1.10) and 9% (95% CI: 1.03, 1.18) increases in borderline and abnormal hyperactivity/inattention subscale scores, respectively; and 5% (95% CI: 0.98, 1.14) and 6% (95% CI: 0.99, 1.12) increases in abnormal conduct problem and peer relationship problem subscale scores, respectively. Exposure to road traffic noise during pregnancy was not associated with child behavioral problems at 7 years of age.ConclusionsResidential road traffic noise in early childhood may be associated with behavioral problems, particularly hyperactivity/inattention symptoms.CitationHjortebjerg D, Andersen AM, Christensen JS, Ketzel M, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Sunyer J, Julvez J, Forns J, Sørensen M. 2016. Exposure to road traffic noise and behavioral problems in 7-year-old children: a cohort study. Environ Health Perspect 124:228–234; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409430

Place effects on noise annoyance: Cumulative exposures, odour annoyance and noise sensitivity as mediators of environmental context

Previous research suggests there may be combined effects of outdoor air pollution and traffic noise on noise annoyance, but it is not known how environmental context can moderate these effects. Physical attributes of the environment can influence relative levels of exposure, while sociocultural contexts can moderate environmental perceptions. Noise sensitivity is an important factor in appraisal, but previous research has not linked levels of sensitivity to contextual factors. The objectives of this study were to understand how a high-volume traffic corridor and pollution hotspot could influence co-exposures to air pollution and traffic noise and consequent levels of noise annoyance. Data from a community survey (n = 610) along with modelled estimates of residential traffic noise and nitrogen dioxide exposure were utilized for the analyses. The effective loudness function for noise annoyance and an ordinal location-scale model showed that varying levels of co-exposure to traffic noise and air pollution along with odour annoyances in the corridor and a control area had strong effects on the noise annoyance dose–response. The results also indicated that there was a significantly higher level of error in predicting noise annoyance in the corridor area. There appeared to be neighbourhood-level differences in the effect of noise sensitivity on noise annoyance. The findings have important implications for our understanding of multiple exposures along with the influence of environmental context on noise annoyance. In particular, this study demonstrates that research on the effects of traffic noise across large urban areas may conceal important phenomena occurring at the neighbourhood level.

Exposure to traffic noise and markers of obesity

ObjectivesLimited evidence suggests adverse effects of traffic noise exposure on the metabolic system. This study investigates the association between road traffic noise and obesity markers as well as the role...

Noise and somatic symptoms: A role for personality traits?

We investigated the role of a stress-sensitive personality on relations between noise, noise annoyance and somatic symptom reporting. First, we investigated the cross-sectional association of road traffic noise exposure and somatic symptoms, and its modification by hostility and vulnerability to stress. Second, we investigated the cross-sectional association of noise annoyance from eight sources (e.g. road traffic, aircraft, neighbours) and somatic symptoms, and it's confounding by hostility and vulnerability to stress. Data were obtained from LifeLines, a general population cohort from the Netherlands. Road traffic noise was estimated using the Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe (CNOSSOS-EU) noise model. Noise annoyance, hostility, vulnerability to stress, and somatic symptoms were assessed with validated questionnaires. Poisson regression models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic variables indicated no association of noise exposure and somatic symptoms (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.001; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.000-1.001; n=56,937). Interactions of noise exposure and hostility and vulnerability to stress were not statistically significant. Small positive associations were found for noise annoyance from each of the eight sources and somatic symptoms, when adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic variables (e.g. for road traffic noise annoyance IRR 1.014, 95% CI 1.011-1.018; n=6177). Additional adjustment for hostility and vulnerability to stress resulted in small decreases of the IRRs for noise annoyance from each of the eight sources, but the associations remained statistically significant. Personality facets hostility and vulnerability to stress did not modify the relation between road traffic noise exposure and somatic symptom reporting, or confound relations between noise annoyance and symptoms.

Noise sensitivity and future risk of illness and mortality

Aircraft and road traffic noise exposure increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Noise annoyance is the most frequent response to environmental noise. Noise annoyance has been shown to modify the association of transport noise exposure on CVD and noise sensitivity moderates the annoyance response to noise. This study uses prospective data from phases 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 in 3630 male and female civil servants from the UK Whitehall II Study to examine whether a single question on noise sensitivity measured by annoyance responses to noise in general predicts physical and mental ill-health and mortality. Non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke morbidity over the follow-up were defined by MONICA criteria based on study ECGs, hospital records, hospital admission statistics or General Practitioner confirmation. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and psychological distress by the General Health questionnaire (GHQ). There was no association between noise sensitivity and CVD morbidity or mortality except in people from lower employment grades where there was an association with angina. Noise sensitivity was a consistent predictor of depressive symptoms and psychological distress at phases 3, 5 and 7. High noise sensitivity scores at baseline predicted GHQ caseness at phase 3 adjusting for age, sex, employment grade, self-rated health and GHQ caseness at baseline (OR=1.56 95% CI 1.29–1.88). Noise sensitivity has been identified as a predictor of mental ill-health. More longitudinal research is needed including measures of noise exposure.

Residential exposure to traffic noise and health-related quality of life--a population-based study.

BackgroundFew studies have investigated the association between objectively measured traffic noise and health-related quality of life. However, as traffic noise has been associated with both cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and health-issues including sleeping problems, annoyance, and stress, it seems plausible that traffic noise is associated with health-related quality of life.MethodsBetween 1999 and 2002, a cohort of 38,964 Danes filled in the short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Residential exposure to road traffic and railway noise was calculated for all historical addresses for 10 years preceding the SF-36, using the Nordic prediction method. Associations between noise exposure and SF-36 summary scales and the eight sub-scales were calculated using general linear models, adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle.ResultsModels adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic factors showed that a 10 dB higher road traffic noise 1 year preceding SF-36 assessment was associated with a 0.14 lower mental component summary (MCS) score (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.26, -0.01). However, further adjustment for lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, and waist circumference) attenuated the association: (-0.08 (95% CI: -0.20, 0.04)). Exposure to more than 55 dB of railway noise in the same time period was borderline significantly associated with lower MCS. The physical component summary was not associated with traffic noise.ConclusionThe present study suggests a weak association between traffic noise exposure and the mental health component score of SF-36, which may operate through lifestyle. The magnitude of effect was, however, not clinically relevant.

Is a smoking ban in UK parks and outdoor spaces a good idea?

<h3>Objectives</h3> Studies on the health effects of aircraft and road traffic noise exposure suggest excess risks of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and the use of sedatives and hypnotics. Our aim was...

HEDONIC ANALYSIS OVER TIME AND SPACE: THE CASE OF HOUSE PRICES AND TRAFFIC NOISE

ABSTRACTOne consequence of the expanding road network and its associated traffic is increased levels of traffic noise. While the hedonic literature has consistently found a negative relationship between real estate prices and noise levels, research in the United States has typically relied on crude measures of traffic noise. Here, we reduce the measurement error of traffic noise exposure through a detailed model of noise propagation over the landscape. We then estimate the hedonic relationship between noise and single family house prices using over 40,000 transactions throughout the St. Paul, Minnesota, urban area from 2005 to 2010. We implement spatially and temporally flexible local regression techniques and find significant nonstationarity in the hedonic function over time and space.

Development of an open-source road traffic noise model for exposure assessment

This paper describes the development of a model for assessing TRAffic Noise EXposure (TRANEX) in an open-source geographic information system. Instead of using proprietary software we developed our own model for two main reasons: 1) so that the treatment of source geometry, traffic information (flows/speeds/spatially varying diurnal traffic profiles) and receptors matched as closely as possible to that of the air pollution modelling being undertaken in the TRAFFIC project, and 2) to optimize model performance for practical reasons of needing to implement a noise model with detailed source geometry, over a large geographical area, to produce noise estimates at up to several million address locations, with limited computing resources. To evaluate TRANEX, noise estimates were compared with noise measurements made in the British cities of Leicester and Norwich. High correlation was seen between modelled and measured LAeq,1hr (Norwich: r = 0.85, p = .000; Leicester: r = 0.95, p = .000) with average model errors of 3.1 dB. TRANEX was used to estimate noise exposures (LAeq,1hr, LAeq,16hr, Lnight) for the resident population of London (2003–2010). Results suggest that 1.03 million (12%) people are exposed to daytime road traffic noise levels ≥ 65 dB(A) and 1.63 million (19%) people are exposed to night-time road traffic noise levels ≥ 55 dB(A). Differences in noise levels between 2010 and 2003 were on average relatively small: 0.25 dB (standard deviation: 0.89) and 0.26 dB (standard deviation: 0.87) for LAeq,16hr and Lnight.

Evaluating the effects of traffic noise on reaction time and rate of error in drivers′ movement time estimation

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between traffic noise and drivers' reaction time (RT) and their error in estimates of movement time. Materials and Methods: In over all, 80 university students with at least 3 years postlicense experience of driving were divided into two groups including traffic noise exposure and control group. S5 test of Vienna test system package was used for assessment of RT. In addition, time-movement anticipation was employed for measuring the rate of error in estimation of movement time before exposing to the traffic noise. After a 1-month interval, participants in the experimental group were exposed to traffic noise about 2 h and the tests were performed again for both groups. Results: Accordingly, RT was statistically higher after traffic noise exposure for male and female. However, there was no significant difference between time of movement before and after exposure to traffic noise both for male and female (P > 0.05). In addition, no difference was shown between movement time, number of accurate estimates, and number of estimates with gross errors before and after of traffic noise exposure in experimental and control group. Conclusion: The results suggest that traffic noise may be associated with poorer mental processing, which can result in longer RT during driving. Therefore, traffic noise would expose drivers to consequent accidents and incidents.

Road Traffic Noise Exposure in the City of Novi Sad: Trend Analysis and Possible Solutions

Road Traffic Noise Exposure in the City of Novi Sad: Trend Analysis and Possible Solutions

The association between road traffic noise exposure, annoyance and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between road traffic noise exposure, annoyance caused by different noise sources and validated health indicators in a cohort of 1375 adults from the region of Basel, Switzerland. Road traffic noise exposure for each study participant was determined using modelling, and annoyance from various noise sources was inquired by means of a four-point Likert scale. Regression parameters from multivariable regression models for the von Zerssen score of somatic symptoms (point symptom score increase per annoyance category) showed strongest associations with annoyance from industry noise (2.36, 95% CI: 1.54, 3.17), neighbour noise (1.62, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.06) and road traffic noise (1.53, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.96). Increase in modelled noise exposure by 10 dB(A) resulted in a von Zerssen symptom score increase of 0.47 (95% CI: −0.01, 0.95) units. Subsequent structural equation modelling revealed that the association between physical noise exposure and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is strongly mediated by annoyance and sleep disturbance. This study elucidates the complex interplay of different factors for the association between physical noise exposure and HRQOL.

Urban residential road traffic noise and hypertension: a cross-sectional study of adult population.

Results from studies involving exposure to road traffic noise and risk of hypertension are diverse and have seldom reached statistical significance. This study was designed with the aim of investigating whether there is any association between road traffic noise and prevalence of hypertension in an urban adult population. Similar studies have never been reported from India. A cross-sectional study was performed on 909 adults (533 female and 376 male) aged 18-80 years residing in close proximity to roadways in Asansol City. Time-weighted equivalent noise level (L den) was estimated using a standard modeling platform. Odds for hypertension in relation to traffic noise exposure were estimated by univariate and multifactorial logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for self-reported hypertension was 1.99 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.66-2.39) per 5 dB(A) increase of L den (range 55.1-77.9). A gender-related risk difference was observed among the male (OR 1.81 (1.42-2.31)) and female (OR 2.18 (1.66-2.88)) respondents. For increase in 9 years of age, the odds of hypertension risk increased by 60 % (OR 1.66 (1.43-1.91) among those exposed above L den 60 dB(A). Vulnerable subgroups were female aged 35-54 years and male aged 45-54 years. The study suggests that a threshold exposure to road traffic noise at L den > 65 dB(A) for men and L den > 60 dB(A) in women may be associated with the occurrence of hypertension.

Impact of Road Traffic Noise on Obesity and Body Composition

Background/objectives Traffic noise has been related to adverse health effects such as cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Potential modes of action are through a biological stress response and disturbance of sleep causing dysregulation of cortisol and appetite regulating hormones associated with overweight. In this study we aim to assess the effect of residential road traffic noise on body composition. Subjects/methods We used a population-based cohort of 57,053 middle aged people. Anthropometric measures including height, weight and bioelectrical impedance was collected at baseline in 1993-1997. The impedance measurements are used in sex-specific equations to calculate body fat mass, which was used to calculate body fat mass index (BFMI) and lean body mass index (LBMI). Traffic noise exposure was calculated using the Nordic prediction method based on complete residential address history for five years preceding enrolment. Associations between noise and anthropometric measures were analyzed using general linear models adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, competing noise sources and air pollution. Results We found positive associations between road traffic noise and all measures of obesity and body composition. Waist circumference increased by 0.36 cm per 10 dB (95% CI:0.22;0.51), BMI increased by 0.17 points per 10 dB (95% CI:0.11;0.23), BFMI increased by 0.097 points per 10 dB (95% CI:0.057;0.14) and LBMI increased by 0.085 points per 10 dB (95% CI:0.066;0.10). Conclusions The present study shows positive associations between residential exposure to road traffic noise and overweight in a middle aged population. The biological hypothesis is plausible; we see a dose-response effect and increased estimates for longer exposure and similar results for other sources of noise. However, the results must be confirmed by other studies before any conclusions can be drawn.

Traffic Noise Exposure and Markers of Obesity

Traffic Noise Exposure and Markers of Obesity

Are Social and Environmental Exposures Clustered? Results from a German Metropolitan Area

Background: Environmental hazards often accumulate in areas of low socioeconomic status. However, little is known about individual patterns of environmental exposure. We linked individual data from an ongoing cohort study with contextual exposure data to elucidate spatiotemporal patterns of exposure in an urban population. Methods: We used data from the population-based prospective Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study on 4814 randomly selected residents, aged 45-75 years at baseline, from the highly urbanized Ruhr Area in West-Germany. Residential history for a 10 year period before baseline examination was obtained from city registries for 3320 participants. We collected small-scale contextual social risk factors, including area-level unemployment rate, mean income, residential stability, population density, and percentage of elderly. Environmental physico-chemical exposures of interest were long-term exposure to fine particulate matter, proximity to traffic and chronic traffic noise. Individual socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were assessed repeatedly. Using bivariate and multivariate hierarchical analyses, we investigated spatiotemporal exposure variations in the study area and their associations with individual socio-economic status. Results: During the 10 years before baseline, participants with low education or with low income spent more time in exposed neighborhoods than participants with high education or high income. For example, participants in the lowest and highest income group lived 15.3% and 10.0%, respectively, of the 10 years before baseline at residences with high traffic noise exposure (&gt;65 dB(A) 24h mean). Every year of high residential noise exposure was associated with a 3% (95% CI 0-5%) higher prevalence of hypertension. Conclusions: The accumulation of individual and contextual risk factors over time and across residential histories poses a risk for the development of chronic disease.

Improving traffic noise simulations using space syntax: preliminary results from two roadway systems.

Noise pollution is one of the four major pollutions in the world. In order to implement adequate strategies for noise control, assessment of traffic-generated noise is essential in city planning and management. The aim of this study was to determine whether space syntax could improve the predictive power of noise simulation. This paper reports a record linkage study which combined a documentary method with space syntax analysis. It analyses data about traffic flow as well as field-measured and computer-simulated traffic noise in two Bulgarian agglomerations. Our findings suggest that space syntax might have a potential in predicting traffic noise exposure by improving models for noise simulations using specialised software or actual traffic counts. The scientific attention might need to be directed towards space syntax in order to study its further application in current models and algorithms for noise prediction.

Reconstruction of historical noise exposure data for environmental epidemiology in Switzerland within the SiRENE project

AbstractIn 2014 the three-year interdisciplinary study SiRENE (Short and Long Term Effects of Traffic Noise Exposure) was launched in Switzerland. The goal of SiRENE is to investigate acute, short- and long-term e_ects of road, railway and aircraft noise exposure on annoyance, sleep disturbances and cardio-metabolic risk.The study is based on a detailed Swiss-wide assessment of transportation noise exposure, including diurnal distributions. The exposure analysis comprises current as well as historical exposure calculations for up to 20 years in the past.We present the major challenges of compiling sufficient data to support a Swiss-wide model for all buildings and including all transport infrastructure as a basis for the subsequent SiRENE sound exposure analysis for the years 2011, 2001 and 1991. The task is particularly challenging for the early years due to poor data quality and/or lack of availability. We address the integration of geo-referenced input datasets from various sources and time periods, the assignment of tra_c noise exposure from façade points to dwelling units, as well as the processing of traffic information and statistics. Preliminary results of the noise exposure calculations are presented.

Noise-related sleep disturbances: does gender matter?

Women sleep differently and report differently about sleep disturbances than men. However, it is unclear whether the sleep of women and men is affected differently by traffic noise exposure. We aimed to address gender specific noise effects by using objective and subjective exposure measures as well as objective and subjective outcome data. In a questionnaire survey conducted in 2008 including 733 women and 533 men from Basel, Switzerland, with follow-up 1 year later, we collected data on subjective sleep disturbances and annoyance to road traffic noise. Objective noise exposure data was obtained using validated propagation models. In a nested diary study with 119 participants, objective sleep efficiency and sleep duration was measured by means of actigraphic devices for 1551 nights. Data were analyzed using random intercept mixed-effects multilevel regression models adjusted for relevant confounding factors. Objectively measured sleep duration in highly exposed men (>55 dB) was reduced by 1.5 h (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.3-0.8 h) compared with low exposed men (<30 dB). No noise effect on sleep duration was observed in women. The association of modeled noise exposure with self-reported sleep quality rating was also more pronounced in men (-0.8 unit, 95% CI: -1.4 to -0.2) than in women (-0.3 unit, 95% CI: -0.8 to 0.2). However, in highly annoyed women reduction in sleep quality and well-being rating tended to be stronger than in highly annoyed men. Our study provides some indications that noise exposure affects men's sleep differently than women's sleep, which may have distinct long-term health consequences.

Association between transportation noise and cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies among adult populations from 1980 to 2010.

It is hypothesized that exposure to transportation noise is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease among adult population. The present study further explores this association in the light of new findings. The objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of studies reported during the last 3 decades on the association of transportation noise exposure with cardiovascular disease endpoints among adult population in cross-sectional studies. Relative risks were pooled from 12 studies by using an inverse-variance weighted fixed-effects model. The cardiovascular health outcomes included ischemic heart disease, myocardial infraction, angina pectoris, electrocardiogram-ischemia and cardiovascular medication. The pooled risk estimate (95% confidence interval) of 1.04 (0.96-1.12), shows a positive but nonsignificant association. The sensitivity analysis, conducted by excluding studies one by one, resulted in a positive and significant risk estimate. Contrary to the earlier meta-analysis, this study observed heterogeneity among subgroups and produced significant positive results to show that there exists an association between air traffic noise exposure and cardiovascular disease. It was also observed that the risk of cardiovascular disease due to exposure to transportation noise has increase to significant levels over the last 30 years. It can be concluded that though the association between transportation noise exposure and cardiovascular disease is evident, but not at a significant level. This study although provides evidence that air traffic noise is a serious cause of concern.