Danger of living near noisy roads
Wednesday June 24th, 2015
New findings today add to the evidence that exposure to noise pollution may negatively impact health.
A
team based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK,
investigated the effects of living in an area with noisy road traffic.
They analysed figures on 8.6 million people in London between 2003 and 2010, taking into account levels of road traffic noise from 7am to 11pm, and from 11pm to 7am. Noise levels were then cross-referenced with deaths and hospital admissions.
This indicated that adults (aged 25 and over) and the elderly (aged 75 and over) were 4% more likely to die if they lived in areas with daytime road traffic noise of above 60dB, compared with below 55dB. The deaths tended to be due to cardiovascular disease, perhaps because of stress from the noise, increased blood pressure, and/or impaired sleep.
In terms of hospital admission for stroke, adults in areas with daytime traffic noise of more than 60dB were 5% more likely to be admitted, compared with those who in areas that had less than 55dB of noise. This rate increased to 9% among the elderly in noisy areas.
For night-time noise, adults were unaffected by rates of stroke rose by 5% among the elderly in the noisiest areas. Full details are published today (24 June) in the European Heart Journal.
"Road traffic noise has previously been associated with sleep problems and increased blood pressure, but our study is the first in the UK to show a link with deaths and strokes," commented lead author, Dr Jaana Halonen.
"This is the largest study of its kind to date, looking at everyone living inside the M25 over a seven-year period. Our findings contribute to the body of evidence suggesting reductions in traffic noise could be beneficial to our health."
Halonen, J. I. et al. Road traffic noise is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and all-cause mortality in London. European Heart Journal 24 June 2015 doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehv216
Tags: General Health | Traveller Health | UK News
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