Auditory effects of aircraft noise on people living near an airport

Vessels and aircraft are chronic sources of anthropogenic noise in coastal marine and terrestrial soundscapes on Long Island, New York

Passive acoustic data collected during 2020 and 2021 were used to monitor changes in both terrestrial and underwater soundscapes, as well as human activity from aircraft and vessels. Passive acoustic data were collected at two artificial reefs south of Long Island, as well as along ocean beaches in Southampton, NY. At the artificial reefs, vessel noise was recorded more frequently during 2020 than in 2021. Commercial vessels and multi-user charter fishing vessels were more abundant during 2020. Peaks in power spectral density occurred at 60, 90 and 120 Hz in 2020 and 2021, which are frequencies consistent with noise generated by commercial vessels, suggesting that vessels are a significant contributor to the soundscape of the artificial reefs. In the terrestrial environment, noise generated by aircraft was more common during 2021. Peaks in power spectral density were measured around 160 and 290 Hz at one of the ocean beach sites. These frequencies are consistent with noise generated by aircraft. This study documents the chronic extent of anthropogenic noise in both the underwater and terrestrial environments of Long Island, NY, as well as quantifies the occurrence of various noise sources in these habitats.

Aircraft Noise Reduction Strategies and Analysis of the Effects

In this study, six aircraft noise reduction strategies including the optimization of aircraft type, regulation of night flight number, optimization of flight procedure, modification of operating runway, land use planning and installation of sound insulation windows were proposed to alleviate the harmful impact of aircraft noise on the local area and population near Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (BIA) in China. The effects of all proposed strategies except for land use planning and sound insulation windows were simulated and analyzed using CadnaA software. The results indicate that these noise reduction strategies have their own advantages and each of them can serve as an effective noise reduction measure for different applications. For instance, the replacement of noisy aircraft with low-noise aircraft can simultaneously reduce the area and population exposed to a high noise level, while the optimization of flight procedure can only reduce the population exposed under relatively low noise levels (70 ≤LWECPN ≤ 75 dB). Nevertheless, the modification of operating runway is more effective in reducing the population suffering under high noise levels (LWECPN > 85 dB). Among these strategies, reducing the number of night flights is found to be most effective in reducing the overall noise-exposed area and population. Additionally, with the assistance of noise mapping, proper land use planning was suggested according to national standards, and the installation of sound insulation windows with different sound reduction grades can be determined for different areas impacted by the aircraft noise of BIA. It is believed that the results of this study can be applied as a reference in selecting suitable noise reduction strategies to improve the acoustic environment of a specific airport.

Remote work: Aircraft noise implications, prediction, and management in the built environment

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed workplace management. Most workplaces have adopted the work-from-home policy to minimize the risk of community spread. Consequently, housing estates remain largely occupied during office hours. Since some housing estates are situated in the vicinity of an airport, noise pollution resulted from the takeoff and landing of aircraft is now more noticed by residents, causing annoyance. This problem would be most acute for those located directly under the flight path. Before the pandemic, such aircraft operations had lower effect on the residents because most of them were not at home but at workplaces. Evidently, it is timely that more emphasis should now be placed during urban planning to predict and minimize aircraft noise in the built environment. This article first defines the aircraft noise metrics commonly used to assess environmental impact. Preceded by an overview of how aircraft noise affects the built environment, this article reviews how various aircraft noise prediction models have been used in urban planning. Lastly, this article reviews how aircraft noise can be managed for better acoustic comfort of the residents. Anticipating the adoption of hybrid work arrangement moving forward, this article aims to provide urban planning professionals with an avenue to understand how aircraft noise can negatively affect the built environment, which, in turn, justify why prediction and management of aircraft noise should be emphasized from the outset of urban planning.

The Effects of a Morphed Trailing-Edge Flap on the Aeroacoustic and Aerodynamic Performance of a 30P30N Aerofoil

This paper presents initial results on the aeroacoustic and aerodynamic effects of morphing the trailing-edge flap of the 30P30N aerofoil, over five flap deflections (5–25°), at an 8° angle of attack and a Reynolds number of Re=9.2×105. The Ffowcs-Williams–Hawkings acoustic analogy estimates the far-field noise, whilst the flow field is solved using URANS with the four-equation Transition SST model. Aerodynamic and aeroacoustic simulation data for the 30P30N’s full configuration compare well with experimental results. A Courant number (C) ≤ 1 should be used for resolving tonal noise, whilst a C of up to 4 is sufficient for broadband noise. Sound pressure level results show an average 11% reduction in broadband noise across all flap deflections and frequencies for the morphed configuration compared with the conventional, single-slotted flap. The morphed flap eliminates the multiple tonal peaks observed in the conventional design. Beyond 15° flap deflection, the morphing flap achieves higher stall angles, but with increased drag, leading to a maximum reduction of 17% in Cl/Cd ratio compared with the conventional flap. The methodology reported here for the 30P30N is a quick tool for initial estimates of the far-field noise and aerodynamic performance of a morphing flap at the design stage.

Assessing and treating adult patients with hearing loss

Hearing loss is a very common presentation both in primary and secondary care. In addition to causing significant morbidity, it can make communication with patients very challenging, and thus impact other aspects of their care. This article presents an approach to the assessment and management of this condition.

The effect of aircraft noise on sleep disturbance among the residents near a civilian airport: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Aircraft noise is a major environmental noise problem. This study was conducted in order to investigate the relationship between sleep disturbance and exposure to aircraft noise on the residents who are living near an airport.

METHODS

There were 3308 residents (1403 in the high exposure group, 1428 in the low exposure group, and 477 in the non-exposure group) selected as the subjects for this study. The Insomnia severity Index (ISI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaires were used to evaluate sleep disturbance.

RESULTS

The mean ISI and ESS scores were 6.9 ± 6.4 and 5.5 ± 3.7, respectively, and the average scores were significantly greater in the aircraft noise exposure group, as compared to the non-exposure group. The percentage of the abnormal subjects, which were classified according to the results of the ISI and ESS, was also significantly greater in the noise exposure group, as compared to the control group. The odd ratios for insomnia and daytime hypersomnia were approximately 3 times higher in the noise exposure group, as compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of insomnia and daytime hypersomnia was higher in the aircraft noise exposure group, as compared to the control group. Further study is deemed necessary in order to clarify the causal relationship.

MDMA (ecstasy) enhances loud noise-induced morphofunctional alterations in heart and adrenal gland

Noise is an environmental stressor increasingly more present in modern life and, in particular, in a variety of recreational contexts. The aim of this work is to show the effects of noise on the myocardium and adrenal gland, through a careful review of the literature dealing with the peripheral effects of noise exposure in experimental and clinical studies. Noise induces adverse effects in human health, principally involving the cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems, and the endocrine apparatus. Several factors in recreational environments potentially worsen the effects induced by loud noise. Among these, the intake of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is frequently associated with noise exposure in recreational situations, because of its high compliance within social and relaxation settings. For this reason, MDMA is defined as a club drug--as its intake by young people often occurs in association with other factors, such as aggregation, high temperatures, and noise. It is known that self-administration of MDMA by humans causes severe toxicity. In particular, the myocardium is affected early after MDMA intake--resulting in tachycardia, hypertension, and arrhythmia. Furthermore, MDMA alters the activity of the adrenal glands by elevating catecholamines and corticosterone levels. This review shows that combining MDMA and loud noise exposure potentiates the effects that are produced by each single stimulant alone as seen in experimental animal models. The convergence of the effects of prolonged loud noise exposure and the consumption of MDMA on the same system might explain the sudden fatal events that happen in recreational situations.

Effets des nuisances sonores sur l’oreille interne

The effects of noise on health depend both on individual factors and characteristics of sound exposure. In case of acoustic trauma, reversible or irreversible lesions of inner ear components are possible. Most often there is immediately an acute tinnitus and hearing loss. Audiometric tests demonstrate hearing loss on the high frequency, generally focused on 4 kHz. Immediate treatment is recommended even there is no currently indicator of the ability to restore hearing. New perspectives on treatment are directed to local treatment and/or using new procedure as antioxidative treatment. Occupational and leisure are the two conditions in which chronic exposure to noise is found. Detection and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss is easier in case of industrial workers than in case of noise exposition for musicians and other sounds and stage technicians or concert managers, and of course non-professional with exposure to amplified music.

Long-term exposure to noise impairs cortical sound processing and attention control

Long-term exposure to noise impairs human health, causing pathological changes in the inner ear as well as other anatomical and physiological deficits. Numerous individuals are daily exposed to excessive noise. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the effects of noise on cortical function. Here we report data showing that long-term exposure to noise has a persistent effect on central auditory processing and leads to concurrent behavioral deficits. We found that speech-sound discrimination was impaired in noise-exposed individuals, as indicated by behavioral responses and the mismatch negativity brain response. Furthermore, irrelevant sounds increased the distractibility of the noise-exposed subjects, which was shown by increased interference in task performance and aberrant brain responses. These results demonstrate that long-term exposure to noise has long-lasting detrimental effects on central auditory processing and attention control.