Longitudinal surveys on effects of changes in road traffic noise—annoyance, activity disturbances, and psycho-social well-being

Abstract

The adverse effects of long-term exposure to a high volume of road traffic were studied in socio-acoustic surveys in 1997 and in 1999 after a substantial reduction in road traffic. The results obtained in 1997 showed a similar response pattern as in previously performed studies in the area in 1986 [Ohrström, J. Sound Vib. 122, 277-290 (1989)]. In 1999, road traffic had been reduced from 25000 to 2400 vehicles per day, and this resulted not only in a large decrease in annoyance and activity disturbances, but also in a better general well-being. The results suggest that a reduction in both noise and other pollutants from road traffic contribute to these effects. To be able to use the outdoor environment and to have the possibility to keep windows open is essential for general well-being and daily behavior, which implies that access both to quiet indoor and outdoor sections of the residency is of importance for achievement of a healthy sound environment. More knowledge of long-term health consequences of exposure to noise and simultaneous pollutants from road traffic is needed. Studies should focus more on "softer" health outcomes and well-being than hitherto and preferably be performed in connection with traffic abatement measures.

Noise Induced Sleep Disturbance in Adult Population: Cross Sectional Study in Skopje Urban Centre

“…Some authors think that is very difficult to correlate energy integrated indicators with actual sleep disturbance and peak sound levels are better predictors of sleep disturbance (1, 4, 11). Another study showed that psychosocial well-being of subjects exposed to high levels of road traffic noise was not related to daytime noise exposure but to night-time equivalent sound level in the bedroom and to subjectively experienced sleep quality (12). According to European legislation and WHO Guidelines for Community Noise, we decided to use L night as a night time exposure indicator and sleep disturbance as noise effect indicator (1, 2, 5, 13, 14).…”

Ikke-audiologiske helseeffekter av støy

“…Eksempelvis har man studert betydningen av tilgang på en stille side av boligen. I en svensk studie fant man at det å ha en stille side av boligen reduserte støyplagen med 10-20% (avhengig av støynivå), når man sammenlignet med en kontrollgruppe som hadde tilsvarende eksponeringsnivåer ved mest eksponerte fasade, men ingen stille side av boligen (28). Man har også funnet at støyplagen påvirkes av støysituasjonen i det umiddelbare nabolag til boligen (29)…”

“…Denne studien hadde imidlertid et lite antall personer (n=82) med relativt liten variasjon i støynivåer (LpAekv,24h fra 63 dB til 72 dB). En svensk spørreundersøkelse gjennomført før og etter omlegging av vegtrafikk i tunnel, viste at etter omleggingen var det en signifikant reduksjon i antall som oppga irritabilitet, nervøsitet, depresjon, urolig mage og et ønske om å vaere alene, blant beboere naer den tidligere trafikkerte vegen (28). Støynivå fra vegtrafikken ble i dette området redusert med mer enn 10 dB i døgngjennomsnittlig støynivå (LpAekv, 24h).…”

Health impacts of the M74 urban motorway extension: a mixed-method natural experimental study

“…51,137 However, exposure to road traffic noise has been found to be associated with less time spent outdoors, less physical activity and (albeit weakly) a higher prevalence of overweight, and routes away from traffic noise may be perceived to be more attractive for cycling. [138][139][140][141][142] However, a cross-country ecological comparison has shown an inverse relationship between the presence of motorways and the national prevalence of overweight and obesity. 143 That relationship may be confounded by the fact that motorway infrastructure reflects national economic prosperity, and therefore does not necessarily contradict our finding suggesting that more proximate exposure to motorway infrastructure may be associated with less healthy behaviour patterns.…”