Noise pollution and human cognition: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of recent evidence

Geospatial analysis for environmental noise mapping: A land use regression approach in a metropolitan city

Environmental noise can lead to adverse health outcomes. Understanding the spatial variability of environmental noise is crucial for mitigating potential health risks and developing influential urban strategies for reducing noise levels. This study aimed to measure noise levels and develop a land use regression (LUR) model to determine the spatial variability of environmental noise in Shiraz, Iran. A grid-based technique was used to establish 191 noise measurement sites (summer) across the city to generate the LUR model based on two noise metrics: Lden and Lnight. Leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) and 38 additional measurement sites (winter) were used for the LUR model assessment. The mean values of Lden and Lnight during summer were 68.20 (±8.05) and 58.95 (±9.55), respectively, while during winter, the corresponding values were 69.46 (±5.46) and 58.81 (±6.79). The LUR models explained 67% and 65% of the spatial variability in Lden and Lnight, respectively. LOOCV analysis demonstrated R2 values of 0.64 and 0.61. Moreover, findings indicated mean absolute error (MAE) values of 3.96 dB(A) for Lden and 4.74 dB(A) for Lnight. Validation based on an additional set of 38 measurement sites revealed R2 values of 0.62 for both Lden and Lnight, with MAE of 2.78 and 3.31, respectively. In addition, the adjusted R2 values were 0.54 and 0.53. The results indicated no significant temporal variations between summer and winter. The results revealed that road-related variables significantly influenced noise levels. Moreover, the results indicated that Lden and Lnight levels were higher than the World Health Organization recommendations for exposure to road traffic noise. The results of our study showed that the LUR modeling approach based on geographical predictors is an effective tool for assessing changes in ambient noise levels in other cities in Iran and around the globe.

The impact of poverty and socioeconomic status on brain, behaviour, and development: a unified framework

In this article, we, for the first time, provide a comprehensive overview and unified framework of the impact of poverty and low socioeconomic status (SES) on the brain and behaviour. While there are many studies on the impact of low SES on the brain (including cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and even neurotransmitters) and behaviours (including educational attainment, language development, development of psychopathological disorders), prior studies did not integrate behavioural, educational, and neural findings in one framework. Here, we argue that the impact of poverty and low SES on the brain and behaviour are interrelated. Specifically, based on prior studies, due to a lack of resources, poverty and low SES are associated with poor nutrition, high levels of stress in caregivers and their children, and exposure to socio-environmental hazards. These psychological and physical injuries impact the normal development of several brain areas and neurotransmitters. Impaired functioning of the amygdala can lead to the development of psychopathological disorders, while impaired hippocampus and cortex functions are associated with a delay in learning and language development as well as poor academic performance. This in turn perpetuates poverty in children, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty and psychological/physical impairments. In addition to providing economic aid to economically disadvantaged families, interventions should aim to tackle neural abnormalities caused by poverty and low SES in early childhood. Importantly, acknowledging brain abnormalities due to poverty in early childhood can help increase economic equity. In the current study, we provide a comprehensive list of future studies to help understand the impact of poverty on the brain.

Effects of high-intensity chronic noise on spatial memory in male versus female rats

The detrimental effects of high-intensity noise on the auditory system and emotional status, including the induction of anxiety, are well documented. Preclinical as well as epidemiological and clinical studies have solidly established differential responses between males and females to various stressful stimuli, including high-intensity white noise (HIWN). However, whether chronic exposure to noise affects cognitive functions and whether this effect is sex dependent has not been adequately addressed. In this study, we used two cognitive test paradigms, such as the Morris water maze (MWM) and the multi-branch maze (MBM), to test the effect of chronic HIWN on indices of spatial learning and memory in both male and female Wistar rats. Our findings indicate that daily (1 h) exposure to 100 dB of noise for 30 consecutive days induces different task-dependent responses in male versus female rats. For example, in the acquisition phase of MWM, female rats exposed to noise outperformed their male counterparts at twice the speed. Similarly, in the MBM test, noise-exposed female rats outperformed the male rats in reaching the nest box. It is clear from these studies that noise impairs cognitive functions twice as negatively in male rats as in female rats. Thus, sex-related differences in spatial learning and memory in response to HIWN must be taken into consideration when investigating the neurobiological components and/or treatment modalities.

How does urbanization affect the cognitive function among older adults: A geospatial analysis in China

There has been a plethora of studies on urbanization and older adults, and more recent ones on how older adults adapt to this process with their cognitive competence. Yet it has been unclear about the relationship between them, like how the level and rate of urbanization affect the cognitive function among older adults. This study sourced, formed, and analyzed a set of geospatial big datasets from different sources, such as the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) data, and the NPP/VIIRS nighttime light (NTL) data. Results showed a generally negative linear association between the rate of urbanization and cognitive performance among older adults in China. The "U" shaped non-linear relationship between urbanization level and cognitive function, as well as the tipping point, were identified. At the same time, it should be noted that mediators such as education, physical activity, social activity, and community elderly service might be able to mitigate these negative associations. Furthermore, older adults living in eastern regions or urban areas appeared to have better cognitive function than those living in mid-western regions or rural areas in China. The findings also pointed to the importance of focusing on older adults with poor cognitive health status in rapidly urbanizing areas.

The Health-Related and Learning Performance Effects of Air Pollution and Other Urban-Related Environmental Factors on School-Age Children and Adolescents-A Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This scoping review aims to assess the impact of air pollution, traffic noise, heat, and green and blue space exposures on the physical and cognitive development of school-age children and adolescents. While existing evidence indicates adverse effects of transport-related exposures on their health, a comprehensive scoping review is necessary to consolidate findings on various urban environmental exposures' effects on children's development.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is consistent evidence on how air pollution negatively affects children's cognitive and respiratory health and learning performance, increasing their susceptibility to diseases in their adult life. Scientific evidence on heat and traffic noise, while less researched, indicates that they negatively affect children's health. On the contrary, green space exposure seems to benefit or mitigate these adverse effects, suggesting a potential strategy to promote children's cognitive and physical development in urban settings. This review underscores the substantial impact of urban exposures on the physical and mental development of children and adolescents. It highlights adverse health effects that can extend into adulthood, affecting academic opportunities and well-being beyond health. While acknowledging the necessity for more research on the mechanisms of air pollution effects and associations with heat and noise exposure, the review advocates prioritizing policy changes and urban planning interventions. This includes minimizing air pollution and traffic noise while enhancing urban vegetation, particularly in school environments, to ensure the healthy development of children and promote lifelong health.

A lecturer's voice quality and its effect on memory, listening effort, and perception in a VR environment

Many lecturers develop voice problems, such as hoarseness. Nevertheless, research on how voice quality influences listeners' perception, comprehension, and retention of spoken language is limited to a small number of audio-only experiments. We aimed to address this gap by using audio-visual virtual reality (VR) to investigate the impact of a lecturer's hoarseness on university students' heard text recall, listening effort, and listening impression. Fifty participants were immersed in a virtual seminar room, where they engaged in a Dual-Task Paradigm. They listened to narratives presented by a virtual female professor, who spoke in either a typical or hoarse voice. Simultaneously, participants performed a secondary task. Results revealed significantly prolonged secondary-task response times with the hoarse voice compared to the typical voice, indicating increased listening effort. Subjectively, participants rated the hoarse voice as more annoying, effortful to listen to, and impeding for their cognitive performance. No effect of voice quality was found on heard text recall, suggesting that, while hoarseness may compromise certain aspects of spoken language processing, this might not necessarily result in reduced information retention. In summary, our findings underscore the importance of promoting vocal health among lecturers, which may contribute to enhanced listening conditions in learning spaces.

Serum metabolome perturbation in relation to noise exposure: Exploring the potential role of serum metabolites in noise-induced arterial stiffness

Noise pollution has grown to be a major public health issue worldwide. We sought to profile serum metabolite expression changes related to occupational noise exposure by untargeted metabolomics, as well as to evaluate the potential roles of serum metabolites in occupational noise-associated arterial stiffness (AS). Our study involved 30 noise-exposed industrial personnel (Lipo group) and 30 noise-free controls (Blank group). The untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed by employing a UPLC-HRMS. The associations of occupational noise and significant differential metabolites (between Blank/Lipo groups) with AS were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models. We performed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis to further screen for AS's risk metabolites. We explored 177 metabolites across 21 categories significantly differentially expressed between Blank/Lipo groups, and these metabolites were enriched in 20 metabolic pathways. Moreover, 15 metabolites in 4 classes (including food, glycerophosphocholine, sphingomyelin [SM] and triacylglycerols [TAG]) were adversely associated with AS (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, five metabolites (homostachydrine, phosphatidylcholine (PC) (32:1e), PC (38:6p), SM (d41:2) and TAG (45:1) have been proven to be useful predictors of AS prevalence. However, none of these 15 metabolites were found to have a mediating influence on occupational noise-induced AS. Our study reveals specific metabolic changes caused by occupational noise exposure, and several metabolites may have protective effects on AS. However, the roles of serum metabolites in noise-AS association remain to be validated in future studies.

Diurnal rail noise measurement, analysis, and evaluation of associated health impacts on residents living in the proximity of rail track area

In India, railway is the major transportation mode for carrying goods and people. The tracks for the movement of the rail were initially constructed in the city for the pre-eminence and expediency of the vantage of the people. Rapid modernization and increasing population in the city crammed the area around the railway tracks. Moving rail on the tracks passing through the city is not compatible, which is creating problems for the nearby residents. In the urban and suburban regions, the railway noise has become a major problem. This study was conducted to examine the perception of the physiological and psychological effects of railway noise in the nearby areas of railway stations in Delhi, India. For this purpose, 10 sites near the railway station were selected for the study. To assess the impact of railway noise pollution on the health of humans, a questionnaire survey was conducted. The data of 344 individuals were collected through the questionnaire survey and analyzed to get the perception towards railway noise. Noise level was monitored by a Sound Level Meter (SLM) and the equivalent noise level (Leq) in dB(A) was used to compute the noise pollution in three shifts, i.e., morning, noon, and evening time. Results showed that 57.65% of female and 86.11% of male respondents in the survey reported the disturbance due to railway noise. The level of noise pollution was found higher in the evening time as compared to the noon and morning period, which exceeds the limit set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at all the monitored locations. Findings of the study show that the primary cause of the health problems is railroad noise, which is negatively impacting the health of the residents, who are living in the proximity of the rail track region. The perception survey reported that headache, sleep disturbance, irritation, and stress are common health issues among the locals residing around the railway track proximity in Delhi.

Association between ambient particulate matter exposure and mitochondrial DNA copy number: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Ambient particulate matter (PM) has been recognized as inducing oxidative stress, which could contribute to mitochondrial damage and dysfunction. However, studies investigating the association between ambient PM and mitochondria, particularly mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN), have yielded inconsistent results.

METHODS

We conducted comprehensive literature searches to identify observational studies published before July 17, 2023, examining the association between ambient PM exposure and mtDNA-CN. Meta-analysis using random effects model was employed to calculate the pooled effect estimates for general individual exposures, as well as for prenatal exposure with specific trimester. Additionally, the quality and level of evidence for each exposure-outcome pair was evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The results indicated that general individual exposure to PM2.5 (β = -0.084, 95 % CI: -0.521, 0.353; I2 = 93 %) and PM10 (β = 0.035, 95 % CI: -0.129, 0.199; I2 = 95 %) did not significantly affect mtDNA-CN. Prenatal exposure to PM2.5 (β = 0.023, 95 % CI: -0.087, 0.133; I2 = 0 %) and PM10 (β = 0.006, 95 % CI: -0.135; 0.147; I2 = 51 %) were also not significantly associated with mtDNA-CN in offspring. The level of evidence for each tested exposure-outcome pair was assessed as "inadequate."

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that there is an "inadequate" strength of evidence for the association between general individual or prenatal exposure to ambient PM and mtDNA-CN. Future research necessitates studies with more rigorous design, enhanced control of confounding factors, and improved measures of exposure to substantiate our findings.

The impact of environmental noise on drivers' cognitive abilities: A case study on in-vehicle voice interaction interfaces

To investigate the impact of environmental noise on the cognitive abilities of drivers, this study, using in-vehicle voice interaction as an example, conducted laboratory experiments to assess the effects of road traffic noise, entertainment noise, and white noise stimuli on drivers' attention and short-term memory. The noise levels simulated to mimic acoustic conditions during car driving ranged from 35 dB(A) to 65 dB(A). The conclusions drawn were as follows: (1) Noise levels directly influenced subjective annoyance levels, with annoyance linearly increasing as noise levels escalated; (2) Both attention and short-term memory task reaction times of drivers were significantly influenced by noise types. Compared to traffic noise and white noise, drivers' cognitive efficiency was lower under entertainment noise. (3) Performance in complex cognitive tasks was more susceptible to noise levels compared to simple cognitive tasks; (4) Experimentally, it was found that drivers exhibited the highest cognitive efficiency in cognitive tasks when the environmental noise level was 55 dB(A), as opposed to noise levels of 35 dB(A), 45 dB(A), and 65 dB(A).

Neural Mechanisms of Nonauditory Effects of Noise Exposure on Special Populations

Due to the abnormal structure and function of brain neural networks in special populations, such as children, elderly individuals, and individuals with mental disorders, noise exposure is more likely to have negative psychological and cognitive nonauditory effects on these individuals. There are unique and complex neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. For individuals with mental disorders, there are anomalies such as structural atrophy and decreased functional activation in brain regions involved in emotion and cognitive processing, such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Noise exposure can worsen these abnormalities in relevant brain regions, further damaging neural plasticity and disrupting normal connections and the transmission of information between the PFC and other brain areas by causing neurotransmitter imbalances. In the case of children, in a noisy environment, brain regions such as the left inferior frontal gyrus and PFC, which are involved in growth and development, are more susceptible to structural and functional changes, leading to neurodegenerative alterations. Furthermore, noise exposure can interrupt auditory processing neural pathways or impair inhibitory functions, thus hindering children's ability to map sound to meaning in neural processes. For elderly people, age-related shrinkage of brain regions such as the PFC, as well as deficiencies in hormone, neurotransmitter, and nutrient levels, weakens their ability to cope with noise. Currently, it is feasible to propose and apply coping strategies to improve the nonauditory effects of noise exposure on special populations based on the plasticity of the human brain.

Racial and ethnic disparities in the co-occurrence of intellectual disability and autism: Impact of incorporating measures of adaptive functioning

Intellectual disability (ID) commonly co-occurs in children with autism. Although diagnostic criteria for ID require impairments in both cognitive and adaptive functioning, most population-based estimates of the frequency of co-occurring ID in children with autism-including studies of racial and ethnic disparities in co-occurring autism and ID-base the definition of ID solely on cognitive scores. The goal of this analysis was to examine the effect of including both cognitive and adaptive behavior criteria on estimates of co-occurring ID in a well-characterized sample of 2- to 5-year-old children with autism. Participants included 3264 children with research or community diagnoses of autism enrolled in the population-based Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) phases 1-3. Based only on Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) composite cognitive scores, 62.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 61.1, 64.7%) of children with autism were estimated to have co-occurring ID. After incorporating Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (VABS-II) composite or domains criteria, co-occurring ID estimates were reduced to 38.0% (95% CI: 36.2, 39.8%) and 45.0% (95% CI: 43.1, 46.9%), respectively. The increased odds of meeting ID criteria observed for non-Hispanic (NH) Black and Hispanic children relative to NH White children when only MSEL criteria were used were substantially reduced, though not eliminated, after incorporating VABS-II criteria and adjusting for selected socioeconomic variables. This study provides evidence for the importance of considering adaptive behavior as well as socioeconomic disadvantage when describing racial and ethnic disparities in co-occurring ID in epidemiologic studies of autism.

Long-term exposure to transportation noise in relation to global cognitive decline and cognitive impairment: Results from a Swedish longitudinal cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Transportation noise is an environmental exposure with mounting evidence of adverse health effects. Besides the increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, recent studies suggest that long-term noise exposure might accelerate cognitive decline in older age. We examined the association between transportation noise and cognitive function in a cohort of older adults.

METHODS

The present study is based on 2594 dementia-free participants aged 60 + years from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K). Global cognition score and CIND (cognitive impairment, no dementia) were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery at baseline and up to 16 years. Residential transportation noise resulting from road traffic, railway, and aircraft were estimated at the most exposed façade and the time-weighted average exposure was assessed. Linear mixed-effect models were used to assess the effect of long-term traffic noise exposure on the rate of change in global cognition score. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of CIND by transportation noise exposure were obtained with Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

Global cognition score decreased at an average rate of -0.041 (95 %CI -0.043, -0.039) per year. Aircraft noise was associated with a 0.007 (per 10 dB Lden; 95 %CI -0.012, -0.001) faster annual rate of decline. Global cognition score seems to be not affected by road traffic and railway noise. During the follow-up, 422 (21 %) participants developed CIND. A 10-dB Lden difference in exposure to aircraft and railway noise was associated with a 16 % (HR 1.16, 95 %CI 0.91, 1.49) and 26 % (HR 1.26, 95 %CI 1.01, 1.56) increased hazard of CIND in the multi-pollutant model, respectively. No association was found for road traffic (HR 1.00, 95 %CI 0.83, 1.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Transportation noise was linked to cognitive impairment and faster cognitive decline among older adults. Future studies are warranted to confirm our results.

Addressing the influencing path of social noise exposure risk perception on noise mitigation behavior

Noise interference has become a common health risk in population-densified urban areas where social noise occurs frequently. However, the influence of an individual's perception of social noise exposure risk on reactive behavior remains unknown. This study developed an integrative psychosocial perspective-based model that includes constructs from two theoretical frameworks (the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Value-Belief-Norm theory) to analyze noise risk perception and behavioral intention for social noise mitigation. Haidian District, Beijing, was selected as the case study area and 300 questionnaires were distributed. The results showed that personal attributes had significant effects on residents' noise exposure risk perception and noise-mitigation behavioral intentions. Noise perception, as represented by awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibility, was significantly related to noise mitigation behavioral intention. Awareness of consequences directly positively influenced behavioral intention (β = 0.235, p < 0.001) and indirectly positively influenced behavioral intention through the mediating effect of the ascription of responsibility, which accounted for 24 % of the total effect of awareness of consequences on behavioral intention. This study provides valuable insights into the risks of social noise and encourages adaptive measures to reduce it.

Effect of low-frequency noise exposure on cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Low-frequency noise may cause changes in cognitive function. However, there is no established consensus on the effect of low-frequency noise on cognitive function. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the relationship between low-frequency noise exposure and cognitive function.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and identified original studies written in English on low-frequency noise and cognition published before December 2022 using the PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science databases. The risk of bias was evaluated according to established guidelines. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed where appropriate. To explore the association between low-frequency noise exposure and cognitive function, we reviewed eight relevant studies. These studies covered cognitive functions grouped into four domains: attention, executive function, memory, and higher-order cognitive functions. The data extraction process was followed by a random-effects meta-analysis for each domain, which allowed us to quantify the overall effect.

RESULTS

Our analysis of the selected studies suggested that interventions involving low-frequency noise only had a negative impact on higher-order cognitive functions (Z = 2.42, p = 0.02), with a standardized mean difference of -0.37 (95% confidence interval: -0.67, -0.07). A moderate level of heterogeneity was observed among studies (p = 0.24, I2 = 29%, Tau2 = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings suggest that low-frequency noise can negatively impact higher-order cognitive functions, such as logical reasoning, mathematical calculation, and data processing. Therefore, it becomes important to consider the potential negative consequences of low-frequency noise in everyday situations, and proactive measures should be taken to address this issue and mitigate the associated potential adverse outcomes.

Cognition as a neglected mediator of responses to anthropogenic noise

Anthropogenic noise is an increasingly pervasive global disturbance factor, with diverse biological effects. Yet, most studies have focused on population mean responses to noise pollution, leaving sources of among-individual differences in responses poorly understood. Blackburn et al. (2023) provide the first evidence from free-living animals that cognition might mediate individual differences in responses to noise pollution. In this commentary, we highlight the contribution of this ground-breaking study to stimulate more research on this important topic. We argue that cognition might mediate among-individual differences in the ability to cope with both masking effects and stress associated with noise pollution.

Association between residential exposure to road traffic noise and cognitive and motor function outcomes in children and preadolescents

BACKGROUND

Exposure to environmental noise is increasing in recent years but most of the previous literature in children has evaluated the effect of aircraft noise exposure at schools on cognition.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether residential exposure to road traffic noise during pregnancy and childhood is associated with cognitive and motor function in children and preadolescents.

METHODS

The study involved 619 participants from the Spanish INMA-Sabadell cohort and 7,115 from the Dutch Generation R Study. We used noise maps to estimate the average day-evening-night road traffic noise levels at each participant's residential address during pregnancy and childhood periods. Validated tests were administered throughout childhood in both cohorts to assess non-verbal and verbal intelligence, memory, processing speed, attentional function, working memory, cognitive flexibility, risky decision-making, and fine and gross motor function. Linear models, linear mixed models, and negative binomial models were run depending on the outcome in cohort-specific analysis and combined with a random-effects meta-analysis. All models were adjusted for several socioeconomic and lifestyle variables and results corrected for multiple testing.

RESULTS

Average road traffic noise exposure levels during pregnancy and childhood were 61.3 (SD 6.0) and 61.5 (SD 5.4) dB for the INMA-Sabadell cohort and 54.6 (SD 7.9) and 53.5 (SD 6.5) dB for the Generation R Study, respectively. Road traffic noise exposure during pregnancy and childhood was not related to any of the cognitive and motor function outcomes examined in this study (e.g. -0.92 (95 % CI -2.08; 0.24) and 0.20 (95 % CI -0.96; 1.35) in overall estimates of memory and fine motor function, respectively, when road traffic noise increases by 10 dB during childhood).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that child's cognitive or motor functions are not affected by residential exposure to road traffic noise. However, more studies evaluating this association at school and home settings as well as noise events are needed.

Association of road traffic noise exposure and school childrens' cognition: A structural equation model approach

This study explores the complex relationship between traffic noise and school children's cognition, acknowledging existing empirical inconsistencies and aiming to contribute to a richer understanding of this pivotal issue. Schools adjacent to noisy roads were selected, and outdoor noise levels were measured employing a Kimo dB300 sound level meter, focusing on noise level indices LAeq, L10, and L90. Subsequent calculations were performed to determine the noise pollution level (Lnp), noise climate (NC), and traffic noise index (TNI), revealing a severe noise exposure when compared to standard guidelines. A perception questionnaire for various noise and acoustic factors influencing cognition was developed, and 1524 student responses were collected. Data analysis incorporated Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) for dimension reduction, revealing three latent factors labelled 'annoyance,' 'behaviour,' and 'cognition'. Further, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to explore multivariate relationships between variables and latent factors. Resultant path coefficients were obtained as 0.12, 0.98, and 0.10 for the impact of 'behaviour' and 'annoyance' on 'cognition' and the correlation between 'annoyance' and 'behaviour', respectively. Findings underscore a potent positive impact of annoyance, stemming from acute ambient noise exposure, on the deterioration of children's cognition. While suggesting that ambient noise may be correlated with adverse health impacts due to its influence on cognition, this study emphasizes the pressing necessity for noise mitigation in roadside schools and stringent enforcement of noise pollution guidelines in academic zones.

Relationship amongst Noise Sensitivity, Burnout and Psychological Resilience in Community Workers

Background

The mental health status of community workers shows the characteristics of low job satisfaction, low self-efficacy and psychological resilience, and a high sense of burnout. This research aims to explore the relationship between noise sensitivity, burnout, and psychological resilience in community workers.

Methods and Material

Convenience sampling was adopted to select 169 community workers from five communities as research objects for an anonymous questionnaire survey. A general questionnaire was used to collect the general information of the respondents. Noise sensitivity, burnout and psychological resilience scales were adopted to analyse the correlation amongst noise sensitivity, burnout and psychological resilience in community workers. Univariate and multivariate logistics regression analyses were used to analyse the influencing factors of job burnout and psychological resilience in community workers.

Results

A total of 169 questionnaires were distributed, and after excluding 6 unqualified questionnaires, 163 valid questionnaires (96.45%) were collected. The scores on the noise sensitivity, burnout and psychological resilience scales were 63.80 ± 9.69, 78.57 ± 10.12 and 54.18 ± 8.77 points, respectively. The results of the correlation analysis showed that in community workers, the noise sensitivity score was negatively correlated with the psychological resilience score (P < 0.001) and positively correlated with the burnout score (P < 0.001). The burnout and psychological resilience scores of community workers showed statistical differences with different ages, working years and disposable monthly family income (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression results revealed that noise sensitivity, age, working years and disposable monthly family income had an effect on burnout and psychological resilience scores (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In community workers, noise sensitivity is positively correlated with burnout and negatively correlated with psychological resilience. This study provides a certain research basis for conducting relevant psychological research and interventions.

Indoor soundscape in primary school classroomsa)

Soundscape research on indoor environments is emerging as a topic to be addressed for the design of supportive, healthier, and more comfortable spaces. Only a few studies so far addressed the context of educational buildings, mainly focusing on high schools and universities. This pilot study uses questionnaires based on pictorial scales to investigate the indoor soundscape of classrooms for primary school children (n = 130; 8-10 years old). Perceived loudness and the affective dimensions of pleasantness and arousal were explored. Besides the actual soundscape, the children's ideal soundscape was investigated as well. The results of the study indicate that the most frequent sounds in classrooms are generated by the students themselves (voices, movements) followed by the traffic. The urban context of the school modulates the children's perception when windows are open to ensure natural ventilation. Pleasantness is associated with students' age, perceived loudness, and frequency of children's voices in nearby classrooms. The frequency of hearing indoor sounds (children's voices) and sirens affects students' arousal. Our results indicate that children at school are mostly exposed to unpleasant sounds, whereas their preferred ones are music and nature-related ones. The findings have implications for the design of positive and inclusive learning environments.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE), cause significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women. Several environmental toxins, particularly those that affect the normal function of the placenta and the endothelium, are emerging as potential risk factors for HDP. Among them, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely used in a variety of commercial products, have been related to a variety of adverse health effects including HDP. This study was conducted by searching three databases for observational studies reporting associations between PFAS and HDP, all of which were published before December 2022. We used random-effects meta-analysis to calculate pooled risk estimates, and assessing each combination of exposure and outcome for quality and level of evidence. In total, 15 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The results from meta-analyses showed that risk of PE was increased with exposure to PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.85; N = 6 studies; exposure = 1 ln-unit increment; low certainty), PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) (RR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.23, 1.86; N = 6 studies; exposure = 1 ln-unit increment; moderate certainty), and PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonate) (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.76; N = 6 studies; exposure = 1 ln-unit increment; low certainty). PFOS was also associated with an increased risk of HDP (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.76; exposure = 1 ln-unit increment; low certainty). Exposure to legacy PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS) is associated with an increased risk of PE, and PFOS is further associated with HDP. In view of the limitations of meta-analysis and quality of evidence, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further research is required that assesses exposure to multiple PFAS in diverse and well-powered cohorts.

Traffic Noise Assessment Using Intelligent Acoustic Sensors (Traffic Ear) and Vehicle Telematics Data

Here, we introduce Traffic Ear, an acoustic sensor pack that determines the engine noise of each passing vehicle without interrupting traffic flow. The device consists of an array of microphones combined with a computer vision camera. The class and speed of passing vehicles were estimated using sound wave analysis, image processing, and machine learning algorithms. We compared the traffic composition estimated with the Traffic Ear sensor with that recorded using an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera and found a high level of agreement between the two approaches for determining the vehicle type and fuel, with uncertainties of 1-4%. We also developed a new bottom-up assessment approach that used the noise analysis provided by the Traffic Ear sensor along with the extensively detailed urban mobility maps that were produced using the geospatial and temporal mapping of urban mobility (GeoSTMUM) approach. It was applied to vehicles travelling on roads in the West Midlands region of the UK. The results showed that the reduction in traffic engine noise over the whole of the study road was over 8% during rush hours, while the weekday-weekend effect had a deterioration effect of almost half. Traffic noise factors (dB/m) on a per-vehicle basis were almost always higher on motorways compared the other roads studied.

A comprehensive review on triple R eco-management strategies to reduce, reuse and recycle of hazardous cigarette butts

Cigarettes are the globally consumed product that contributes to public health problems and is the source of the most prevalent form of litter in the world, Cigarette butts. Cigarette butts are a major source 4000 toxic chemicals, affecting the health of wildlife, humans, and the environment and their decomposition can take years due to the resistance of cellulose acetate to bacterial and fungal degradation. In 2016, the world production of cigarettes exceeded 5.7 trillion, with the majority of them consisting of cellulose acetate filters. Consequently, a massive amount of hazardous waste leaches out in the environment. Incineration and landfilling are methods of disposal, but they can result in the emission of harmful fumes and be costly. To combat this environmental issue, researchers have explored the recycling of cigarette butts in various materials, including asphalt concrete, fired clay bricks, and as a carbon source, among others. Various approaches can be used to reduce cigarette butts pollution, but efficient collection logistics by consumers remains a crucial factor for successful recycling. This paper provides innovative solutions to mitigate the cigarette butts litter problem and the feasibility of recycling methods. Despite recent progress in cigarette butts recycling solutions, there is still much room for research in this area.

Investigating sonic injustice: A review of published research

Sound has been researched as either an environmental pollutant (noise) with detrimental health effects or an environmental resource with beneficial outcomes for well-being. We define sonic injustice as unjust inequalities in both noise exposure and access to high-quality, beneficial sound environments. We performed a comparative analysis of 34 peer-reviewed studies on sonic injustice. These studies were from Europe, North America, Accra and Hong Kong. We found suggestive evidence of a social inequality in noise exposure, particularly for low income and racial/ethnic groups. In contrast, children were often associated with an underexposure to noise. We did not find any studies on inequalities in access to beneficial sound environments, except for one study on quiet areas. As well, this review identifies trends in European and North American studies; discusses causal mechanisms for sonic inequalities; and presents avenues for future investigations into sonic injustice.

Auditory Electrophysiological and Perceptual Measures in Student Musicians with High Sound Exposure

This study aimed to determine (a) the influence of noise exposure background (NEB) on the peripheral and central auditory system functioning and (b) the influence of NEB on speech recognition in noise abilities in student musicians. Twenty non-musician students with self-reported low NEB and 18 student musicians with self-reported high NEB completed a battery of tests that consisted of physiological measures, including auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) at three different stimulus rates (11.3 Hz, 51.3 Hz, and 81.3 Hz), and P300, and behavioral measures including conventional and extended high-frequency audiometry, consonant-vowel nucleus-consonant (CNC) word test and AzBio sentence test for assessing speech perception in noise abilities at -9, -6, -3, 0, and +3 dB signal to noise ratios (SNRs). The NEB was negatively associated with performance on the CNC test at all five SNRs. A negative association was found between NEB and performance on the AzBio test at 0 dB SNR. No effect of NEB was found on the amplitude and latency of P300 and the ABR wave I amplitude. More investigations of larger datasets with different NEB and longitudinal measurements are needed to investigate the influence of NEB on word recognition in noise and to understand the specific cognitive processes contributing to the impact of NEB on word recognition in noise.

The association of road traffic noise with cognition in adolescents: A cohort study in Switzerland

Environmental noise exposure has been shown to affect children's cognition, but the concept of cognition is multifaceted, and studies on associations with noise are still inconclusive and fragmented. We studied cognitive change within one year in 882 adolescents aged 10-17 years in response to road traffic noise exposure. Participants filled in a comprehensive questionnaire and underwent cognitive testing twice at an interval of one year. Figural and verbal memory was measured with the Intelligenz-Struktur-Test (IST), and concentration accuracy and constancy were measured with FAKT-II and d2 test. Exposure to noise and other environmental stressors were modelled for school and home location at baseline. Missing data was addressed with multiple imputation. Cross-sectional multilevel analyses and longitudinal change score analyses were performed. In cross-sectional analyses, figural memory was significantly reduced by -0.27 (95%CI -0.49,-0.04) units per 10 dB road traffic noise increase at home (L_den). Longitudinal analyses showed a significant reduction of concentration constancy Z-scores between baseline and follow-up by -0.13 (95%CI -0.25, 0.00) per 10 dB road traffic noise at home (L_den). Our study indicates that road traffic noise at home reduces cognitive performance in adolescents. Larger cohorts with longer follow-up time are needed to confirm these results.

Automated identification and assessment of environmental noise sources

Noise pollution is one of the major health risks in urban life. The approach to measurement and identification of noise sources needs to be improved and enhanced to reduce high costs. Long measurement times and the need for expensive equipment and trained personnel must be automated. Simplifying the identification of main noise sources and excluding residual and background noise allows more effective measures. By spatially filtering the acoustic scene and combining unsupervised learning with psychoacoustic features, this paper presents a prototype system capable of automated calculation of the contribution of individual noise sources to the total noise level. Pilot measurements were performed at three different locations in the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Equivalent sound pressure levels obtained with the device were compared to the results obtained by manually marking individual parts of each of the three measurements. The proposed approach correctly identified the main noise sources in the vicinity of the measurement points.

Environmental noise and health in low-middle-income-countries: A systematic review of epidemiological evidence

Evidence of the health impacts from environmental noise has largely been drawn from studies in high-income countries, which has then been used to inform development of noise guidelines. It is unclear whether findings in high-income countries can be readily translated into policy contexts in low-middle-income-countries (LMICs). We conducted this systematic review to summarise noise epidemiological studies in LMICs. We conducted a literature search of studies in Medline and Web of Science published during 2009-2021, supplemented with specialist journal hand searches. Screening, data extraction, assessment of risk of bias as well as overall quality and strength of evidence were conducted following established guidelines (e.g. Navigation Guide). 58 studies were identified, 53% of which were from India, China and Bulgaria. Most (92%) were cross-sectional studies. 53% of studies assessed noise exposure based on fixed-site measurements using sound level meters and 17% from propagation-based noise models. Mean noise exposure among all studies ranged from 48 to 120 dB (L_eq), with over half of the studies (52%) reporting the mean between 60 and 80 dB. The most studied health outcome was noise annoyance (43% of studies), followed by cardiovascular (17%) and mental health outcomes (17%). Studies generally reported a positive (i.e. adverse) relationship between noise exposure and annoyance. Some limited evidence based on only two studies showing that long-term noise exposure may be associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular outcomes in adults. Findings on mental health outcomes were inconsistent across the studies. Overall, 4 studies (6%) had "probably low", 18 (31%) had "probably high" and 36 (62%) had "high" risk of bias. Quality of evidence was rated as 'low' for mental health outcomes and 'very low' for all other outcomes. Strength of evidence for each outcome was assessed as 'inadequate', highlighting high-quality epidemiological studies are urgently needed in LMICs to strengthen the evidence base.

Spatial modelling and inequalities of environmental noise in Accra, Ghana

Noise pollution is a growing environmental health concern in rapidly urbanizing sub-Saharan African (SSA) cities. However, limited city-wide data constitutes a major barrier to investigating health impacts as well as implementing environmental policy in this growing population. As such, in this first of its kind study in West Africa, we measured, modelled and predicted environmental noise across the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) in Ghana, and evaluated inequalities in exposures by socioeconomic factors. Specifically, we measured environmental noise at 146 locations with weekly (n = 136 locations) and yearlong monitoring (n = 10 locations). We combined these data with geospatial and meteorological predictor variables to develop high-resolution land use regression (LUR) models to predict annual average noise levels (LAeq24hr, Lden, Lday, Lnight). The final LUR models were selected with a forward stepwise procedure and performance was evaluated with cross-validation. We spatially joined model predictions with national census data to estimate population levels of, and potential socioeconomic inequalities in, noise levels at the census enumeration-area level. Variables representing road-traffic and vegetation explained the most variation in noise levels at each site. Predicted day-evening-night (Lden) noise levels were highest in the city-center (Accra Metropolis) (median: 64.0 dBA) and near major roads (median: 68.5 dBA). In the Accra Metropolis, almost the entire population lived in areas where predicted Lden and night-time noise (Lnight) surpassed World Health Organization guidelines for road-traffic noise (Lden <53; and Lnight <45). The poorest areas in Accra also had significantly higher median Lden and Lnight compared with the wealthiest ones, with a difference of ∼5 dBA. The models can support environmental epidemiological studies, burden of disease assessments, and policies and interventions that address underlying causes of noise exposure inequalities within Accra.

Types, sources, socioeconomic impacts, and control strategies of environmental noise: a review

Noise exposure has reached an alarming degree over the years because of rapid growth in the industry, transportation, and urbanization. Therefore, it is a dire need to provide awareness of the sources and mitigation strategies of noise, and to highlight the health, and socio-economic impacts of noise. A few research studies have documented this emerging issue; however, there is no comprehensive document describing all types of noise, their impacts on living organisms, and control strategies. This review article summarizes the sources of noise; their effects on industrial workers, citizens, and animals; and the value of property in noisy areas. The plethora of literature is showing an increased level of noise in various cities of the world, which have various health consequences such as high blood pressure, insomnia, nausea, heart attack, exhaustion, dizziness, headache, and triggered hearing loss. Apart from humans, noise also affects animal habitat, preying, and reproduction ability; increases heart rate and hearing loss to even death and loss in property value; and impairs the hospital environment. Finally, we have discussed the possible strategies to mitigate the noise problem, policy statements, and regulations to be followed, with future research directions based on the identified research gaps.

Bridging the environment and neurodevelopment for children's health: Associations between real-time air pollutant exposures and cognitive outcomes

Research suggests that children's exposure to pollutants may impact their neurocognitive development. While researchers have found associations between air pollutants and cognitive development, these associations remain underspecified. Further, these exposures occur in the context of the built environment and may be exacerbated by local social vulnerability; in this context, individuals may experience a suite of socioenvironmental stressors that lead to increased cumulative risk exposure. In this pilot study, we tested whether real-time-measured personal exposure to PM2.5 relates to children's executive function and mathematical skills, outcomes that may predict later mathematical performance, general academic performance and even employment outcomes. We recruited 30 families to participate in two rounds in Winter 2020 and Summer 2021. We collected children's demographic data, as well as data about their living environment. In each round, children carried a small device that collected real-time ambient air pollution data for 3 days; parents logged their children's activities each day. On the last day, children completed cognitive assessments indexing their working memory (n-back), inhibitory control (Go/No-Go), nonsymbolic math skills (dot comparison), and arithmetic skills (equation verification). Overall, 29 participants had pollutant readings from both rounds, and 21 had a full dataset. Nonparametric statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in ambient air pollution and cognitive performance over time, Spearman's rho correlation assessment found that PM2.5 was not significantly correlated with cognitive outcomes in R1 and R2. However, the correlations suggested that an increase in PM2.5 was associated with worse working memory, inhibitory control, nonsymbolic skills, and arithmetic skills, at least in R1. We used each participant's zip code-aggregated Social Vulnerability Index, which range from 0 to 1, with higher numbers indicating more social vulnerability. Wilcoxon Rank-Sum tests indicated that participants living in higher SVI zip codes (≥0.70; n = 15) were not significantly different from those living in lower SVI zip codes (<0.70; n = 14), in terms of their PM2.5 exposures and cognitive performance in each round. We also found that socioeconomic characteristics mattered, such that children whose parent (s) had at least a Master's degree or earned more than $100,000 a year had lower PM2.5 exposures than children in the other end.

New Indicators for the Assessment and Prevention of Noise Nuisance

At present, health effects induced by prolonged noise exposure are widely studied to determine the most spread noise sources and their effects [...]

Effects of Auditory Pre-Stimulation on Cognitive Task Performance in a Noisy Environment

The accident rate due to human errors in industrial fields has been consistently high over the past few decades, and noise has been emerging as one of the main causes of human errors. In recent years, auditory pre-stimulation has been considered as a means of preventing human errors by improving workers’ cognitive task performance. However, most previous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of the auditory pre-stimulation in a quiet environment. Accordingly, studies on the effects of pre-stimulation in a noisy environment are still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to empirically investigate: (1) the effects of noisy environments on the performances of cognitive tasks related to different functions of working memory and (2) the effects of auditory pre-stimulation on the performances of cognitive tasks in a field-noise environment. To accomplish these research objectives, two major experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, a total of 24 participants performed each of three basic short-term/working memory (STM/WM) tasks under two different experimental conditions (quiet-noise environment and field-noise environment) depending on the presence or absence of field noise. In the second experiment, the participants performed each of the three basic STM/WM tasks in a field-noise environment after they were provided with one of four different auditory pre-stimulations (quiet noise, white noise, field noise, and mixed (white and field) noise). The three STM/WM tasks were the Corsi block-tapping, Digit span, and 3-back tasks, corresponding to the visuospatial sketchpad, the phonological loop, and the central executive of WM, respectively. The major findings were that: (1) the field-noise environment did not affect the scores of the Corsi block-tapping and 3-back tasks, significantly affecting only the Digit span task score (decreased by 15.2%, p < 0.01); and (2) the Digit span task performance in the field-noise environment was improved by 17.9% (p < 0.05) when mixed noise was provided as a type of auditory pre-stimulation. These findings may be useful for the work-space designs that prevent/minimize human errors and industrial accidents by improving the cognitive task performance of workers in field-noise environments.

Explaining the Association Between Urbanicity and Psychotic-Like Experiences in Pre-Adolescence: The Indirect Effect of Urban Exposures

Urban living is a growing worldwide phenomenon with more than two-thirds of people expected to live in cities by 2050. Although there are many benefits to living in an urban environment, urbanicity has also been associated with deleterious health outcomes, including increased risk for psychotic outcomes particularly when the urban exposure occurs in pre-adolescence. However, the mechanisms underlying this association is unclear. Here, we utilize one-year follow-up data from a large (N=7,979), nationwide study of pre-adolescence in the United States to clarify why urbanicity (i.e., census-tract population density) might impact psychotic-like experiences (PLE) by looking at the indirect effect of eight candidate urbanicity-related physical (e.g., pollution) and social (e.g., poverty) exposures. Consistent with other work, we found that of the evaluated exposures related to urbanicity, several were also related to increased number of PLE: PM2.5, proximity to roads, census-level homes at-risk for exposure to lead paint, census-level poverty, and census-level income-disparity. These same urban-related exposures were also related to the persistence of PLE after 1 year, but not new onset of PLE. Mediation analysis revealed that a substantial proportion the urbanicity-PLE association (number and persistence) could be explained by PM2.5 (23-44%), families in poverty (68-93%), and income disparity (67-80%). Together, these findings suggest that specific urban-related exposures contribute to the existence and maintenance, but not onset of PLE, which might help to explain why those in urban environments are disproportionately at-risk for psychosis and point toward areas for public health intervention.

Evaluation of traffic noise pollution using geographic information system and descriptive statistical method: a case study in Mashhad, Iran

Environmental consequences and the epidemiologic results of noise pollution have chronic effects leading to widespread complications in the long run. As far as we know, there are a few studies for pollution monitoring and control systems in comparison with other environmental pollutants. One of the largest metropolitan cities located in Iran is Mashhad city as known as one of the biggest religious cities in the world. Different properties of this city including historical, industrial, and religious draw thousands of visitors to Mashhad, yearly. This fact motivates us to contribute to the concept of noise pollution in streets and sidewalks around the Holy Shrine, namely, Imam Reza. In this regard, different measurements using geographic information system (GIS) and descriptive statistical methods were conducted for our case study in Mashhad, Iran. All measurements and records were done during the peak of morning crowd (10-12 AM) and evening crowd (4-6 PM) on both sidewalks of each street around the Holy Shrine. This study showed that the pollution in the evening time span (4-6 PM) has the maximum level of noise. Among all streets in our case study in Mashhad, Iran, Tabarsi street has the most amount of noise pollution with a mean of 78 dB(A) for the mean intensity for each point, and Imam Reza street has the minimum amount of pollution with a mean of 72.75 dB(A). Our findings from the temporal perspective analysis confirm that the noise pollution peaks in the evening, when weather conditions are favorable. From the spatial perspective analysis, the most intensive noise pollution was observed around residential and accommodation land uses, which have the highest number of arterial routes towards the Holy Shrine.