1
|
Sanok S, Berger M, Müller U, Schmid M, Weidenfeld S, Elmenhorst EM, Aeschbach D. Road traffic noise impacts sleep continuity in suburban residents: Exposure-response quantification of noise-induced awakenings from vehicle pass-bys at night. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 817:152594. [PMID: 34953847 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nocturnal traffic noise has been associated with adverse health outcomes in exposed residents. Precise quantification of traffic noise effects on sleep is thus of great importance. Here we establish an exposure-response relationship for the awakening probability due to intermittent road traffic noise in suburban residents. We conducted a field study in residential areas where road traffic was the dominant noise source, and noise events were attributable to separate vehicle pass-bys. Forty healthy participants underwent polysomnography for five consecutive nights at their homes. A total of 11,003 road traffic noises derived from simultaneous acoustic measurements at the sleepers' ears were included in an event-related analysis of awakenings. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the awakening probability due to road traffic noise increased with the maximum sound pressure level (SPL) and the maximum slope of the increasing SPL of a vehicle pass-by, as well as the age of the exposed individual. Compared to sleep stage 2, the awakening probability was higher in rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) and lower in slow wave sleep (SWS). The protective effect of both stage 2 and SWS against awakenings decreased with age, whereas no age-dependent change was observed for REMS. When adjusting for other contributing factors, the probability of a noise-induced awakening ranged from 0% at a maximum SPL of 27.1 dB(A) to 2.0% at 70 dB(A). Road traffic noise at night - even in suburban areas with moderate traffic density - negatively impacts residents' sleep continuity. Exposure-response quantification for traffic noise-induced awakenings may serve as a basis for noise protection efforts by regulators and policy makers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Sanok
- Department of Sleep and Human Factors Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Moritz Berger
- Department of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology (IMBIE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Uwe Müller
- Department of Sleep and Human Factors Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Matthias Schmid
- Department of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology (IMBIE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Sarah Weidenfeld
- Department of Sleep and Human Factors Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Eva-Maria Elmenhorst
- Department of Sleep and Human Factors Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Daniel Aeschbach
- Department of Sleep and Human Factors Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne, Germany; Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn Medical Center, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Smith MG, Ögren M, Thorsson P, Hussain-Alkhateeb L, Pedersen E, Forssén J, Ageborg Morsing J, Persson Waye K. A laboratory study on the effects of wind turbine noise on sleep: results of the polysomnographic WiTNES study. Sleep 2020; 43:zsaa046. [PMID: 32211778 PMCID: PMC7487868 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Assess the physiologic and self-reported effects of wind turbine noise (WTN) on sleep. METHODS Laboratory sleep study (n = 50 participants: n = 24 living close to wind turbines and n = 26 as a reference group) using polysomnography, electrocardiography, salivary cortisol, and questionnaire endpoints. Three consecutive nights (23:00-07:00): one habituation followed by a randomized quiet Control and an intervention night with synthesized 32 dB LAEq WTN. Noise in WTN nights simulated closed and ajar windows and low and high amplitude modulation depth. RESULTS There was a longer rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency (+16.8 min) and lower amount of REM sleep (-11.1 min, -2.2%) in WTN nights. Other measures of objective sleep did not differ significantly between nights, including key indicators of sleep disturbance (sleep efficiency: Control 86.6%, WTN 84.2%; wakefulness after sleep onset: Control 45.2 min, WTN 52.3 min; awakenings: Control n = 11.4, WTN n = 11.5) or the cortisol awakening response. Self-reported sleep was consistently rated as worse following WTN nights, and individuals living close to wind turbines had worse self-reported sleep in both the Control and WTN nights than the reference group. CONCLUSIONS Amplitude-modulated continuous WTN may impact on self-assessed and some aspects of physiologic sleep. Future studies are needed to generalize these findings outside of the laboratory and should include more exposure nights and further examine possible habituation or sensitization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Smith
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mikael Ögren
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pontus Thorsson
- Division of Applied Acoustics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Akustikverkstan AB, Lidköping, Sweden
| | - Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eja Pedersen
- Department of Architecture and the Built Environment, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jens Forssén
- Division of Applied Acoustics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Julia Ageborg Morsing
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Persson Waye
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Smith MG, Rocha S, Witte M, Basner M. On the feasibility of measuring physiologic and self-reported sleep disturbance by aircraft noise on a national scale: A pilot study around Atlanta airport. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 718:137368. [PMID: 32092522 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Aircraft noise can disturb sleep and impair recuperation. Research is needed to develop exposure-response relationships that are representative of noise-exposed communities and can be used to inform noise mitigation policy in the United States. For a national field study on physiologic response to aircraft noise during sleep to be feasible, an inexpensive yet sound study methodology is needed. In the pilot study presented here, the methodology of using electrocardiography and actigraphy to monitor sleep was implemented around Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL). The primary objective was to evaluate the quality and quantity of data that could be obtained with the following study approaches: recruiting participants by postal questionnaire, shipping them the physiologic and noise measurement equipment, and the unattended setup of the equipment and recording of data by the participants themselves. The secondary objective was to compare objective and subjective measures of sleep and health between groups exposed to different levels of nocturnal aircraft noise. We mailed 4080 questionnaires containing items on sleep, health and noise disturbance to residences around ATL that were exposed to at least 35 dB Lnight aircraft noise. From 407 questionnaire respondents, 34 participants completed five nights of unattended sleep measurements. Data of sufficient quality and quantity to investigate the effects of aircraft noise on sleep were obtained. Self-reported awakenings increased as a function of the highest maximum aircraft noise level occurring during the sleep period. Event-related physiologic awakenings increased as a function of the maximum noise level of individual aircraft noise events, although this effect was of only borderline statistical significance (p = 0.057) likely due to the low sample size of this pilot study. The approach used in the presented pilot study has been demonstrated to be feasible for the purpose of the larger-scale study among a representative population around multiple airports in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Smith
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Sarah Rocha
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Maryam Witte
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Mathias Basner
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Comparing the Effects of Road, Railway, and Aircraft Noise on Sleep: Exposure⁻Response Relationships from Pooled Data of Three Laboratory Studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16061073. [PMID: 30917492 PMCID: PMC6466444 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16061073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Air, road, and railway traffic, the three major sources of traffic noise, have been reported to differently impact on annoyance. However, these findings may not be transferable to physiological reactions during sleep which are considered to decrease nighttime recovery and might mediate long-term negative health effects. Studies on awakenings from sleep indicate that railway noise, while having the least impact on annoyance, may have the most disturbing properties on sleep compared to aircraft noise. This study presents a comparison between the three major traffic modes and their probability to cause awakenings. In combining acoustical and polysomnographical data from three laboratory studies sample size and generalizability of the findings were increased. Methods: Data from three laboratory studies were pooled, conducted at two sites in Germany (German Aerospace Center, Cologne, and Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund). In total, the impact of 109,836 noise events on polysomnographically assessed awakenings was analyzed in 237 subjects using a random intercept logistic regression model. Results: The best model fit according to the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) included different acoustical and sleep parameters. After adjusting for these moderators results showed that the probability to wake up from equal maximum A-weighted sound pressure levels (SPL) increased in the order aircraft < road < railway noise, the awakening probability from road and railway noise being not significantly different (p = 0.988). At 70 dB SPL, it was more than 7% less probable to wake up due to aircraft noise than due to railway noise. Conclusions: The three major traffic noise sources differ in their impact on sleep. The order with which their impact increased was inversed compared to the order that was found in annoyance surveys. It is thus important to choose the correct concept for noise legislation, i.e., physiological sleep metrics in addition to noise annoyance for nighttime noise protection.
Collapse
|
5
|
Nassur AM, Léger D, Lefèvre M, Elbaz M, Mietlicki F, Nguyen P, Ribeiro C, Sineau M, Laumon B, Evrard AS. Effects of Aircraft Noise Exposure on Heart Rate during Sleep in the Population Living Near Airports. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16020269. [PMID: 30669300 PMCID: PMC6352139 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16020269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali-Mohamed Nassur
- Université Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, IFSTTAR, UMRESTTE, UMR T_9405, F-69675 Bron, France.
| | - Damien Léger
- Université Paris Descartes, APHP, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance et EA 7330 VIFASOM, 75004 Paris, France.
| | - Marie Lefèvre
- Université Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, IFSTTAR, UMRESTTE, UMR T_9405, F-69675 Bron, France.
| | - Maxime Elbaz
- Université Paris Descartes, APHP, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance et EA 7330 VIFASOM, 75004 Paris, France.
| | - Fanny Mietlicki
- Bruitparif, the Center for Technical Assessment of the Noise Environment in the Île-de-France Region of France, 93200 Saint-Denis, France.
| | - Philippe Nguyen
- Bruitparif, the Center for Technical Assessment of the Noise Environment in the Île-de-France Region of France, 93200 Saint-Denis, France.
| | - Carlos Ribeiro
- Bruitparif, the Center for Technical Assessment of the Noise Environment in the Île-de-France Region of France, 93200 Saint-Denis, France.
| | - Matthieu Sineau
- Bruitparif, the Center for Technical Assessment of the Noise Environment in the Île-de-France Region of France, 93200 Saint-Denis, France.
| | - Bernard Laumon
- IFSTTAR, Transport, Health and Safety Department, F-69675 Bron, France.
| | - Anne-Sophie Evrard
- Université Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, IFSTTAR, UMRESTTE, UMR T_9405, F-69675 Bron, France.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Restorative effects of urban green environments and the role of urban-nature orientedness and noise sensitivity: A field experiment. Health Place 2019; 55:59-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
7
|
Pultznerova A, Eva P, Kucharova D, Argalasova L. Railway noise annoyance on the railway track in northwest slovakia. Noise Health 2018; 20:90-100. [PMID: 29785974 PMCID: PMC5965006 DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_59_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: This paper describes an assessment of noise caused by railway traffic in a large high-loaded railway track in Northwest Slovakia. Materials and Methods: The measurements of noise levels generated by trains passing through residential neighborhoods were taken. Noise maps were also calculated showing noise pollution generated by the train traffic. In addition, the annoyance level and sleep disturbance of residents affected by railway noise were evaluated by a validated questionnaire on a pilot sample of 107 respondents living near the important railway track. Results: The measurements indicated that the noise levels generated by the passage of the train were extremely high especially at night, clearly exceeding the nighttime limits of equivalent sound pressure level established by the Decree of the Slovak Ministry of Health (No.549/2007) (LAeq = 55 dB). Measurements at one point during the night exceeded the limit values of up to 17.4 dB. The residents reported feeling affected by the noise generated by passing trains, which caused irritability, headache, poor concentration, and insomnia. In addition, 19.64% of the residents claimed that nocturnal noise pollution was the most distressing. The results of bivariate analysis showed a higher risk of annoyance especially for railway noise [ORMH = 7.80 (4.02–15.14)] and the noise from industry [ORMH = 3.08 (1.72–5.50)] in the exposed location. Discussion: The effects of railway traffic on annoyance/sleep and psychosocial well-being were evaluated in a few studies. In accordance with our results the railway noise mostly disturbs sleep and rest of the respondents. Conclusion: The pilot survey showed the importance of sleep and rest disturbance by railway noise and the possibilities of getting worse health condition in the future. Noise abatement measures and strategies should, therefore, be implemented in an effective and manageable way increasing the environmental advantages of rail transport.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alzbeta Pultznerova
- Department of Railway Engineering and Track Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, Zilina, Slovakia
| | - Panulinova Eva
- Institute of Structural Engineering, Department of Geotechnics and Traffic Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Kucharova
- Department of Structural Mechanics and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, Zilina, Slovakia
| | - Lubica Argalasova
- Institute of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Han X, Huang X, Liang H, Ma S, Gong J. Analysis of the relationships between environmental noise and urban morphology. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 233:755-763. [PMID: 29127933 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of urban morphology on urban environmental noise (UEN) at a regional scale is crucial for creating a pleasant urban acoustic environment. This study seeks to investigate how the urban morphology influences the UEN in the Shenzhen metropolitan region of China, by employing remote sensing and geographic information data. The UEN in this study consists of not only regional environmental noise (RN), but also traffic noise (TN). The experimental results reveal the following findings: 1) RN is positively correlated with the nighttime light intensity (NTL) and land surface temperature (LST) (p < 0.05). More interestingly, landscape composition and configuration can also significantly affect RN. For instance, urban vegetation can mitigate the RN (r = -0.411, p < 0.01). There is a reduced RN effect when fewer buildings exist in an urban landscape, in terms of the positive relationship between building density and RN (r = 0.188, p < 0.01). Given the same percentage of building area, buildings are more effective at reducing noise when they are distributed across the urban scenes, rather than being spatially concentrated (r = -0.205, p < 0.01). 2) TN positively relates to large (r = 0.520, p < 0.01) and small-medium (r = 0.508, p < 0.01) vehicle flow. In addition, vegetation along or near roads can alleviate the TN effect (r = -0.342, p < 0.01). TN can also become more severe in urban landscapes where there is higher road density (r = 0.307, p < 0.01). 3) Concerning the urban functional zones, traffic land is the greatest contributor to urban RN, followed by mixed residential and commercial land. The findings revealed by this research will indicate how to mitigate UEN.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Xin Huang
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, PR China.
| | - Hong Liang
- Shenzhen Environmental Monitoring Centre, Shenzhen 518049, PR China
| | - Song Ma
- Shenzhen Environmental Monitoring Centre, Shenzhen 518049, PR China
| | - Jianya Gong
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Smith MG, Croy I, Ögren M, Hammar O, Lindberg E, Persson Waye K. Physiological effects of railway vibration and noise on sleep. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 141:3262. [PMID: 28599531 PMCID: PMC5433882 DOI: 10.1121/1.4983302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
This paper evaluates the relative contribution of vibration and noise from railway on physiological sleep outcomes. Vibration from railway freight often accompanies airborne noise, yet is almost totally absent in the existing literature. In an experimental investigation, 23 participants, each sleeping for six nights in the laboratory, were exposed to 36 simulated railway freight pass-bys per night with vibration alone (aWd,max = 0.0204 ms-2), noise alone (LAF,max = 49.8 dB), or both vibration and noise simultaneously. A fourth exposure night involved 52 pass-bys with concurrent vibration and noise. Sleep was measured with polysomnography. Cardiac activity was measured with electrocardiography. The probability of cortical arousals or awakenings was greater following all exposures, including vibration alone, than spontaneous reaction probability (p < 0.05). The effects of vibration exposure and noise exposure on changes of sleep stage and arousals were directly additive. Vibration and noise exposure both induced heart rate acceleration above spontaneously expected fluctuations at baseline. The results indicate that vibration and noise are processed in the brain separately yet in parallel, with both contributing towards the likelihood of sleep disruption. The findings show that vibration is of importance when considering the impact of railway freight on sleep.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Smith
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mikael Ögren
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Oscar Hammar
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eva Lindberg
- Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Persson Waye
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Brown B, Rutherford P, Crawford P. The role of noise in clinical environments with particular reference to mental health care: A narrative review. Int J Nurs Stud 2015; 52:1514-24. [PMID: 26008135 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a large literature suggesting that noise can be detrimental to health and numerous policy documents have promoted noise abatement in clinical settings. OBJECTIVES This paper documents the role of noise in clinical environments and its deleterious effects with a particular focus on mental health care. Our intention however, is to go beyond the notion that noise is simply undesirable and examine the extent to which researchers have explored the meaning of sound in hospital settings and identify new opportunities for research and practice. DATA SOURCES AND REVIEW METHODS This is a narrative review which has grouped the literature and issues in the field into themes concerning the general issues of noise in health care; sleep noise and hospital environments; noise in intensive care units; implications for service users and staff; and suggestions for new ways of conceptualising and researching clinical soundscapes. Data sources comprised relevant UK policy documents and the results of a literature search of Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Knowledge using terms such as noise, health, hospital, soundscape and relevant additional terms derived from the papers retrieved. In addition the references of retrieved articles were scanned for additional relevant material and historical items significant in shaping the field. RESULTS Excess unwanted noise can clearly be detrimental to health and impede recovery, and this is clearly recognised by policymakers especially in the UK context. We use the literature surveyed to argue that it is important also to see the noise in clinical environments in terms of the meaning it conveys and rather than merely containing unwanted sound, clinical environments have a 'soundscape'. This comprises noises which convey meaning, for example about the activities of other people, the rhythms of the day and the nature of the auditory community of the hospital. Unwanted sound may have unwanted effects, especially on those who are most vulnerable, yet this does not necessarily mean that silence is the better option. Therefore it is our contention that it is important to begin thinking about the social functions of sound in the mental health environment. CONCLUSIONS Whilst it can be stressful, sound can also be soothing, reassuring and a rich source of information about the environment as well. It may be used to secure a degree of privacy for oneself, to exclude others or as a source of solidarity among friends and colleagues. The challenge then is to understand the work that sound does in its ecological context in health care settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Brown
- Health Communication, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, United Kingdom.
| | - Peter Rutherford
- Institute of Architecture, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Crawford
- Health Humanities, University of Nottingham, Derby Education Centre, Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby DE22 3DT, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Li S, Chang SH, Francisco GE, Verduzco-Gutierrez M. Acoustic startle reflex in patients with chronic stroke at different stages of motor recovery: a pilot study. Top Stroke Rehabil 2014; 21:358-70. [PMID: 25150668 DOI: 10.1310/tsr2104-358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acoustic startle reflex (ASR) can be used as a tool to examine reticulospinal excitability. The potential role of reticulospinal mechanisms in the development of spasticity has been suggested but not tested. OBJECTIVE To examine reticulospinal excitability at different stages of motor recovery in patients with chronic stroke using the ASR. METHODS Sixteen subjects with hemiplegic stroke participated in the study. We examined ASR responses at rest and contralateral motor overflow during voluntary elbow flexion. RESULTS ASR responses in impaired biceps muscles showed different patterns at different stages. In subjects without spasticity, ASR responses were less frequent (10% on impaired side) and had normal duration (<200 ms). In subjects with spasticity, the responses were more frequent (58.3% on impaired side) and longer lasting (up to 1 minute). However, no correlation between exaggerated reflex responses and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scores was observed. During voluntary elbow flexion on the impaired side, similar positive linear force-electromyogram (EMG) relationships were found in subjects with and without spasticity. Electromyographic activity of the resting nonimpaired limb increased proportionally in subjects with spasticity (r = 0.6313, P = .0004), but no such correlation was found in subjects without spasticity (r = 0.0191, P = .9612). CONCLUSIONS Preliminary findings of exaggerated ASR responses and associated contralateral overflow only in spastic biceps muscles in patients with chronic stroke suggest the important role of reticulospinal mechanisms in the development of spasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Li
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas Neurorehabilitation Research Laboratory, Neurorecovery Research Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann Research Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Shuo-Hsiu Chang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Gerard E Francisco
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Croy I, Smith MG, Waye KP. Effects of train noise and vibration on human heart rate during sleep: an experimental study. BMJ Open 2013; 3:bmjopen-2013-002655. [PMID: 23793667 PMCID: PMC3657678 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Transportation of goods on railways is increasing and the majority of the increased numbers of freight trains run during the night. Transportation noise has adverse effects on sleep structure, affects the heart rate (HR) during sleep and may be linked to cardiovascular disease. Freight trains also generate vibration and little is known regarding the impact of vibration on human sleep. A laboratory study was conducted to examine how a realistic nocturnal railway traffic scenario influences HR during sleep. DESIGN Case-control. SETTING Healthy participants. PARTICIPANTS 24 healthy volunteers (11 men, 13 women, 19-28 years) spent six consecutive nights in the sleep laboratory. INTERVENTIONS All participants slept during one habituation night, one control and four experimental nights in which train noise and vibration were reproduced. In the experimental nights, 20 or 36 trains with low-vibration or high-vibration characteristics were presented. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Polysomnographical data and ECG were recorded. RESULTS The train exposure led to a significant change of HR within 1 min of exposure onset (p=0.002), characterised by an initial and a delayed increase of HR. The high-vibration condition provoked an average increase of at least 3 bpm per train in 79% of the participants. Cardiac responses were in general higher in the high-vibration condition than in the low-vibration condition (p=0.006). No significant effect of noise sensitivity and gender was revealed, although there was a tendency for men to exhibit stronger HR acceleration than women. CONCLUSIONS Freight trains provoke HR accelerations during sleep, and the vibration characteristics of the trains are of special importance. In the long term, this may affect cardiovascular functioning of persons living close to railways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Croy
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Smith MG, Croy I, Ogren M, Persson Waye K. On the influence of freight trains on humans: a laboratory investigation of the impact of nocturnal low frequency vibration and noise on sleep and heart rate. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55829. [PMID: 23409055 PMCID: PMC3567002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A substantial increase in transportation of goods on railway may be hindered by public fear of increased vibration and noise leading to annoyance and sleep disturbance. As the majority of freight trains run during night time, the impact upon sleep is expected to be the most serious adverse effect. The impact of nocturnal vibration on sleep is an area currently lacking in knowledge. We experimentally investigated sleep disturbance with the aim to ascertain the impact of increasing vibration amplitude. Methodology/Principal Findings The impacts of various amplitudes of horizontal vibrations on sleep disturbance and heart rate were investigated in a laboratory study. Cardiac accelerations were assessed using a combination of polysomnography and ECG recordings. Sleep was assessed subjectively using questionnaires. Twelve young, healthy subjects slept for six nights in the sleep laboratory, with one habituation night, one control night and four nights with a variation of vibration exposures whilst maintaining the same noise exposure. With increasing vibration amplitude, we found a decrease in latency and increase in amplitude of heart rate as well as a reduction in sleep quality and increase in sleep disturbance. Conclusions/Significance We concluded that nocturnal vibration has a negative impact on sleep and that the impact increases with greater vibration amplitude. Sleep disturbance has short- and long-term health consequences. Therefore, it is necessary to define levels that protect residents against sleep disruptive vibrations that may arise from night time railway freight traffic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Smith
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sørensen M, Hvidberg M, Hoffmann B, Andersen ZJ, Nordsborg RB, Lillelund KG, Jakobsen J, Tjønneland A, Overvad K, Raaschou-Nielsen O. Exposure to road traffic and railway noise and associations with blood pressure and self-reported hypertension: a cohort study. Environ Health 2011; 10:92. [PMID: 22034939 PMCID: PMC3213219 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-10-92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2011] [Accepted: 10/28/2011] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies suggest that long-term exposure to transport noise increases the risk for cardiovascular disorders. The effect of transport noise on blood pressure and hypertension is uncertain. METHODS In 1993-1997, 57,053 participants aged 50-64 year were enrolled in a population-based cohort study. At enrollment, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured. Incident hypertension during a mean follow-up of 5.3 years was assessed by questionnaire. Residential long-term road traffic noise (Lden) was estimated for 1- and 5-year periods preceding enrollment and preceding diagnosis of hypertension. Residential exposure to railway noise was estimated at enrollment. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of associations between road traffic and railway noise and blood pressure at enrollment with linear regression, adjusting for long-term air pollution, meteorology and potential lifestyle confounders (N = 44,083). Incident self-reported hypertension was analyzed with Cox regression, adjusting for long-term air pollution and potential lifestyle confounders. RESULTS We found a 0.26 mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure (95% confidence intervals (CI): -0.11; 0.63) per 10 dB(A) increase in 1-year mean road traffic noise levels, with stronger associations in men (0.59 mm Hg (CI: 0.13; 1.05) per 10 dB(A)) and older participants (0.65 mm Hg (0.08; 1.22) per 10 dB(A)). Road traffic noise was not associated with diastolic blood pressure or hypertension. Exposure to railway noise above 60 dB was associated with 8% higher risk for hypertension (95% CI: -2%; 19%, P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS While exposure to road traffic noise was associated with systolic blood pressure in subgroups, we were not able to identify associations with hypertension.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mette Sørensen
- Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Hvidberg
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Barbara Hoffmann
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Zorana J Andersen
- Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rikke B Nordsborg
- Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Anne Tjønneland
- Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kim Overvad
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | |
Collapse
|