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Gopinathan B, Vijayshankar V, Roy S. Exploring the relationship between the built environment of prisons and the mental health of inmates. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRISON HEALTH 2024; 20:360-374. [PMID: 39183590 DOI: 10.1108/ijoph-11-2022-0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Around the world, prison complexes have always been fundamentally taxing environments. The strained atmosphere within these prisons often contributes to the deterioration of mental health, mostly those who may already be psychologically vulnerable. This paper aims to understand whether there exists a relationship between the built environment of prisons, particularly the central prisons of India and its effects on the mental health of inmates. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH By means of literature reviews, the study parameters were found to be connectivity to nature, lighting, acoustics, colour, air quality and thermal comfort. The data collected through interviews and email correspondences with identified experts were analysed thematically using a deductive approach to derive a set of practical recommendations, which could be implemented in Indian prisons. FINDINGS The built environment of prisons impacts the prison population by further contributing to depressive symptoms. The effects of the built space persist regardless of social factors. A well-designed environment is healthy for its occupants and would yield positive changes. However, it is not the sole contributor to depression; social interactions, prison management, societal acceptance and meaningful activities are equally relevant factors. The sole focus of this paper is the relationship between the built environment and the mental health of inmates. ORIGINALITY/VALUE There is a paucity of research into the intersection between prison architecture and the mental health of inmates in the Indian subcontinent. This paper that addresses the gap may have significant consequences on how criminal reform is perceived, and also encourage further research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Gopinathan
- Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Vaagdaa Vijayshankar
- Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Sanghamitra Roy
- Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
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Lee SH, Kim AR, Lee J. Effects of noise exposure on stress hormone changes during task performance in young Korean men: quasi-experimental study. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2024; 87:605-615. [PMID: 38721994 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2024.2352122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have suggested that noise exposure might be associated with changes in stress hormone levels. However, quantitative evidence for these effects in humans is rare and remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of exposure to noise and its different levels on stress hormone changes in task performance. Quasi-experimental noise exposure environment was established for 90 male university student volunteers in their twenties, and each was exposed to different noise levels during task performance. The stress hormones tested included cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), adrenaline, and noradrenaline. A one-way ANOVA was performed to investigate differences in hormone levels measured in the three groups according to the noise exposure levels (35, 45, or 75 dB). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to adjust for confounding factors that might affect hormone levels. After adjusting for confounders, significant exposure-dependent differences were found in hormone levels in salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, serum ACTH, and serum adrenaline. The amount of hormonal increase in 75 dB exposure group compared to 35 or 45 dB groups was detected. Similar results were also seen in the rate of change analysis. Our findings indicate that short-term noise exposure during task performance elevates stress hormone levels. Further, the extent of stress hormone alterations varies with noise exposure levels. Changes in hormone levels are an objective measure that may be used to identify health effects and stress responses in various noise environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Hee Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - A-Ram Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Jiho Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
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Rasheed M, Tahir A, Maazouzi M, Wang H, Li Y, Chen Z, Deng Y. Interplay of miRNAs and molecular pathways in spaceflight-induced depression: Insights from a rat model using simulated complex space environment. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23831. [PMID: 39037540 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400420rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Depression is a significant concern among astronauts, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying spaceflight-induced depression remain poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential regulators of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, but their specific role in space-induced depression remains unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the involvement of candidate miRNAs (miR-455-3p, miR-206-3p, miR-132-3p, miR-16-5p, miR-124-3p, and miR-145-3p) and their interaction with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the neurobiology of spaceflight-induced depressive behavior. Using a simulated space environmental model (SCSE) for 21 days, depressive behavior was induced in rats, and candidate miRNA expressions and DEGs in the cortex region were analyzed through qRT-PCR and HPLC, respectively. Results showed that SCSE-exposed rats exhibited depressive behaviors, including anhedonia, increased immobility, and anxiousness compared to controls. Further analysis revealed increased hydrogen peroxide levels and decreased superoxide dismutase levels in the SCSE group, indicating abnormal oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex. Moreover, miRNA analysis demonstrated significant upregulation of miR-455-3p, miR-206-3p, miR-132-3p, and miR-16-5p expression. Among the DEGs identified, the in silico analysis highlighted their involvement in crucial pathways such as glutamatergic signaling, GABA synaptic pathway, and calcium signaling, implicating their role in spaceflight-induced depression. Protein-protein interaction analysis identified hub genes, including DLG4, DLG3, GRIN1, GRIN2B, GRIN2A, SYNGAP1, DLGAP1, GRIK2, and GRIN3A, impacting neuronal dysfunction functions in the cortex region of SCSE depressive rats. DLG4 emerged as a core gene regulated by miR-455-3p and miR-206-3p. Overall, this study underscores the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for mood disorders and neurological abnormalities associated with spaceflight, advancing health sciences, and space health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madiha Rasheed
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Separation and Analysis in Biomedicine and Pharmaceuticals, School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Adnan Tahir
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Mohamed Maazouzi
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Separation and Analysis in Biomedicine and Pharmaceuticals, School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Separation and Analysis in Biomedicine and Pharmaceuticals, School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yumeng Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Separation and Analysis in Biomedicine and Pharmaceuticals, School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zixuan Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Separation and Analysis in Biomedicine and Pharmaceuticals, School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yulin Deng
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Separation and Analysis in Biomedicine and Pharmaceuticals, School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Yang GH, Lin J, Cheung H, Rui G, Zhao Y, Balachander L, Joo T, Lee H, Smith ZP, Zhu L, Ma C, Fink Y. Single Layer Silk and Cotton Woven Fabrics for Acoustic Emission and Active Sound Suppression. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2313328. [PMID: 38561634 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Whether intentionally generating acoustic waves or attempting to mitigate unwanted noise, sound control is an area of challenge and opportunity. This study investigates traditional fabrics as emitters and suppressors of sound. When attached to a single strand of a piezoelectric fiber actuator, a silk fabric emits up to 70 dB of sound. Despite the complex fabric structure, vibrometer measurements reveal behavior reminiscent of a classical thin plate. Fabric pore size relative to the viscous boundary layer thickness is found-through comparative fabric analysis-to influence acoustic-emission efficiency. Sound suppression is demonstrated using two distinct mechanisms. In the first, direct acoustic interference is shown to reduce sound by up to 37 dB. The second relies on pacifying the fabric vibrations by the piezoelectric fiber, reducing the amplitude of vibration waves by 95% and attenuating the transmitted sound by up to 75%. Interestingly, this vibration-mediated suppression in principle reduces sound in an unlimited volume. It also allows the acoustic reflectivity of the fabric to be dynamically controlled, increasing by up to 68%. The sound emission and suppression efficiency of a 130 µm silk fabric presents opportunities for sound control in a variety of applications ranging from apparel to transportation to architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace H Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jinuan Lin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Henry Cheung
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Guanchun Rui
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Yongyi Zhao
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Latika Balachander
- Textiles Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Taigyu Joo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Hyunhee Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Zachary P Smith
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Lei Zhu
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Chu Ma
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Yoel Fink
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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Kumar K, Bhartia A, Mishra RK, Jadon RPS, Kumar J. Diurnal rail noise measurement, analysis, and evaluation of associated health impacts on residents living in the proximity of rail track area. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:543. [PMID: 38740673 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12681-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kranti Kumar
- School of Liberal Studies, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi, Delhi, 110006, India.
- Department of Mathematics, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, 176206, India.
| | - Arun Bhartia
- School of Liberal Studies, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi, Delhi, 110006, India
| | - Rajeev Kumar Mishra
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Ravi Pratap Singh Jadon
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Jitendra Kumar
- Department of Mathematics, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, 123031, India
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Xue Z, Ling X, Zhao X, Geng L. Neural Mechanisms of Nonauditory Effects of Noise Exposure on Special Populations. Noise Health 2024; 26:70-81. [PMID: 38904804 DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_78_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Xue
- School of Chinese Language and Literature, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Xinran Ling
- School of Linguistic Sciences and Arts, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221009, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Language Ability, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221009, China
| | - Xinru Zhao
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong Agriculture and Engineering University, Zibo, 255314, China
| | - Libo Geng
- School of Linguistic Sciences and Arts, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221009, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Language Ability, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221009, China
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7
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Das A, Kishore J. Noise levels and annoyance among staff in a tertiary care hospital in North India: A cross-sectional study. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2024; 78:471-482. [PMID: 38009651 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2023.2286388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Hospital noise has remained a low priority problem in India. An area of not less than 100 meters around a hospital is considered a silence zone, with guidelines restricting noise levels at 50dBA during daytime and 40dBA during the night. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines also stipulate an average of 30dBA and a maximum of 40dbA. Annoyance is a known effect of noise exposure. However, very few studies have attempted to explore the hospital soundscape and the annoyance among staff related to it. Noise data was collected from 30 sites, using a Digital Integrating Sound Level Meter, LutronSL-4035SD (ISO-9001,CE,IEC1010) meeting IEC61672 standards. Stratified random sampling of staff was done on basis of noise exposure. A pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic and work profile. Annoyance was defined as a stress reaction to environmental noise and was measured using standardized general purpose noise reaction questionnaire (ISO-TS/15666). Data was analyzed in SPSS. The mean LAeq 24 h across all the sites was 69.5dBA (SD ±5.8dBA) for the weekdays and 66.2dBA (SD ±4.6dBA) for the weekends. Noise levels were higher during the day than during the night, and higher during the weekdays as compared to the weekends. 332(73.8%) study participants were found to be annoyed due to hospital noise. Annoyance among study participants was significantly associated with LAeq 24 h > 80 dBA during the weekdays [aOR = 5.08 (1.17-22.06)] and LAeq 24 h of 65-80 dBA during the weekends [aOR = 2.71 (1.46-5.01)]. Noise levels in the hospital far exceeded WHO and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines recommended for indoor hospital noise, as well as the national guidelines for sensitive zones. Almost three-fourth of the study participants were annoyed due to hospital noise. Significant association was found between annoyance among staff and higher noise levels of their workplace. Similar studies need to be conducted in hospitals across India to generate evidence on the current situtation and identify solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aritrik Das
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Jugal Kishore
- Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
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Lee B, Kim MC, Kim YR, Kim JH, Kwon TJ, Jung DJ, Kim UK, Lee KY. Therapeutic effect of intraperitoneal dexamethasone on noise-induced permanent threshold shift in mice model. Exp Brain Res 2024; 242:257-265. [PMID: 38010535 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06742-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to which investigate whether dexamethasone, which has anti-inflammatory and immune response suppression roles, could treat noise-induced hearing loss caused by damage to hair cells in the cochlea. The experiment used 8-week-old CBA mice exposed to white noise at an intensity of 110 dB SPL for 2 h, with hearing loss confirmed by the auditory brainstem response test. Dexamethasone was administered by intraperitoneal injection for 5 days, and the therapeutic effect was investigated for 3 weeks. The experimental groups were 3 mg/kg of dexamethasone (3 mpk) and 10 mg/kg of dexamethasone (10 mpk), and the control group was a saline-administered group. The results showed that compared to the control group, the hearing threshold value was recovered by 10 dB SPL compared to the saline group from the 14th day in the 3 mpk group. In the 10 mpk group, thresholds were recovered from the 7th day compared to the saline group. This difference was similar at 4 kHz, and in the case of the 10 mpk group, the threshold was recovered by 20 dB SPL compared to the saline group. The study also confirmed the restoration of nerve cell activity and showed a recovery effect of about 20 µV in the amplitude value change in the 10 mpk group. In conclusion, the study suggests that dexamethasone has a therapeutic effect for noise-induced hearing loss by increasing the activity of nerve cells and showing a recovery effect from hair cells damaged by noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeonghyeon Lee
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (KMEDI-Hub), Daegu, Korea
| | - Min-Cheol Kim
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
- School of Life Sciences, KNU Creative BioResearch Group (BK21 Plus Project), Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ye-Ri Kim
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
- Advanced Bio-Resource Research Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jong-Heun Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (KMEDI-Hub), Daegu, Korea
| | - Tae-Jun Kwon
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (KMEDI-Hub), Daegu, Korea
| | - Da Jung Jung
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Un-Kyung Kim
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
- School of Life Sciences, KNU Creative BioResearch Group (BK21 Plus Project), Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
| | - Kyu-Yup Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
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Cacace AT, Berri B. Blast Overpressures as a Military and Occupational Health Concern. Am J Audiol 2023; 32:779-792. [PMID: 37713532 DOI: 10.1044/2023_aja-23-00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This tutorial reviews effects of environmental stressors like blast overpressures and other well-known acoustic contaminants (continuous, intermittent, and impulsive noise) on hearing, tinnitus, vestibular, and balance-related functions. Based on the overall outcome of these effects, detailed consideration is given to the health and well-being of individuals. METHOD Because hearing loss and tinnitus are consequential in affecting quality of life, novel neuromodulation paradigms are reviewed for their positive abatement and treatment-related effects. Examples of clinical data, research strategies, and methodological approaches focus on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve paired with tones (VNSt) for their unique contributions to this area. RESULTS Acoustic toxicants transmitted through the atmosphere are noteworthy for their propensity to induce hearing loss and tinnitus. Mounting evidence also indicates that high-level rapid onset changes in atmospheric sound pressure can significantly impact vestibular and balance function. Indeed, the risk of falling secondary to loss of, or damage to, sensory receptor cells in otolith organs (utricle and saccule) is a primary reason for this concern. As part of the complexities involved in VNSt treatment strategies, vocal dysfunction may also manifest. In addition, evaluation of temporospatial gait parameters is worthy of consideration based on their ability to detect and monitor incipient neurological disease, cognitive decline, and mortality. CONCLUSION Highlighting these respective areas underscores the need to enhance information exchange among scientists, clinicians, and caregivers on the benefits and complications of these outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony T Cacace
- Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Batoul Berri
- Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Shi J, Huang J, Guo M, Tian L, Wang J, Wong TW, Webster C, Leung GM, Ni MY. Contributions of residential traffic noise to depression and mental wellbeing in Hong Kong: A prospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 338:122641. [PMID: 37813145 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies on the association between traffic noise and mental health have been mostly conducted in settings with lower population densities. However, evidence is lacking in high population-density settings where traffic noise is more pervasive and varies by topography and the vertical elevation of the residential unit. This study aimed to assess the mental health impact of residential traffic noise in one of the world's most urbanised populations. Data were analysed from 13,401 participants aged ≥15 years in a prospective cohort in Hong Kong from 2009 to 2014. Residential traffic noise level was estimated using 3D-geocoding and validated models that accounted for sound propagation in a highly vertical landscape. The 24-h day-night exposure to traffic noise, denoted as Ldn, was estimated with a 10-dB(A) penalty for night hours. Probable depression and mental wellbeing were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Short Form Health Questionnaire SF-12v2, respectively. Mixed effect regressions with random intercepts were used to examine the association between traffic noise and mental health outcomes. Residential road traffic noise (for each increment of 10 A-weighted decibels [dB(A)] 24-h average exposure) was associated with probable depression (odds ratio (OR) = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.31), and poorer mental wellbeing (mean difference = -0.19, 95% CI: 0.31, -0.06), adjusting for sociodemographics, smoking, body mass index, self-reported health, proximity to green space, and neighbourhood characteristics (average household income, population density, and Gini coefficient). The results were robust to further adjustment for air pollution. In stratified analyses, residential traffic noise was associated with probable depression and poorer mental wellbeing among students and individuals aged 15-34 years. Residential traffic noise was associated with probable depression and poorer mental wellbeing in a highly urbanised setting. As traffic noise is increasing in urban settings, the public health impact of noise pollution could be substantial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Shi
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianxiang Huang
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Urban Systems Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mengdi Guo
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Linwei Tian
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Urban Systems Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jennifer Wang
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tze Wai Wong
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chris Webster
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Urban Systems Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Institute for Data Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Gabriel M Leung
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D(2)4H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael Y Ni
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Urban Systems Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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11
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Sahin Ceylan D, Sacli Y, Gultekin G, Avsar B, Ozver AG. Do Flights Affect Hearing in Hot Air Balloon Pilots? Am J Audiol 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37992408 DOI: 10.1044/2023_aja-23-00126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to reveal occupational effects on the hearing of hot air balloon (HAB) pilots and examine the relationship between the duration of experience and these effects. METHOD This study included 31 male HAB pilots and a control group of 32 male participants. Tympanometry, eustachian tube function (ETF) test, pure-tone audiometry, and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) tests were performed. RESULTS Pure-tone audiometry results were significantly worse at 125, 500, and 6000 Hz in the right ear and 125, 500, 4000, and 6000 Hz in the left ear in the HAB group than the control group. Although tympanometry evaluation parameters did not differ between the HAB and control groups, ETF test was significantly worse in the HAB group than the controls bilaterally. TEOAE results were significantly worse at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz in the right ear and 4000 Hz in the left ear in the HAB group than the controls. There was a significant positive correlation for 125, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz between the duration of experience and right ear hearing thresholds. For the left ear, the duration of experience showed a significant positive correlation at 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz. When the relationship between the duration of experience and TEOAE results was evaluated, a significant negative correlation was found at 4000 Hz in the left ear. CONCLUSION In HAB pilots, in whom eustachian tube dysfunction is quite common, noise and high altitude affected hearing, especially low and high frequencies, and the duration of experience was found to be associated with hearing thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didem Sahin Ceylan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Yeter Sacli
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Audiology and Speech Disorders, Institute of Health Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gokce Gultekin
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Audiology, Language and Speech Disorders, Institute of Graduate Studies, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Turkey
| | - Busemnaz Avsar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aleyna Goncu Ozver
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, Turkey
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12
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Li X, Fu B, Zhao C, Hu J, Zhang X, Fu Y, She X, Gu C, Cheng M, Wang F, Song X, Dai J, Yin J, Fu Y, Zheng P, Wu F, Zhu Y, Ma K, Gao X, Wang M, Zeng Q, Cui B. Early-life noise exposure causes cognitive impairment in a sex-dependent manner by disrupting homeostasis of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:221-239. [PMID: 37648006 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological investigations show that noise exposure in early life is associated with health and cognitive impairment. The gut microbiome established in early life plays a crucial role in modulating developmental processes that subsequently affect brain function and behavior. Here, we examined the impact of early-life exposure to noise on cognitive function in adolescent rats by analyzing the gut microbiome and metabolome to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Chronic noise exposure during early life led to cognitive deficits, hippocampal injury, and neuroinflammation. Early-life noise exposure showed significant difference on the composition and function of the gut microbiome throughout adolescence, subsequently causing axis-series changes in fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism and serum metabolome profiles, as well as dysregulation of endothelial tight junction proteins, in both intestine and brain. We also observed sex-dependent effects of microbiota depletion on SCFA-related beneficial bacteria in adolescence. Experiments on microbiota transplantation and SCFA supplementation further confirmed the role of intestinal bacteria and related SCFAs in early-life noise-exposure-induced impairments in cognition, epithelial integrity, and neuroinflammation. Overall, these results highlight the homeostatic imbalance of microbiota-gut-brain axis as an important physiological response toward environmental noise during early life and reveals subtle differences in molecular signaling processes between male and female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Li
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; School of Public Health and Management, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Bo Fu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Chunli Zhao
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; School of Public Health and Management, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Junjie Hu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Xinyao Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Yiming Fu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Xiaojun She
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Cui Gu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Mengzhu Cheng
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Fenghan Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Song
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Jie Dai
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Jiayi Yin
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Yu Fu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Pengfang Zheng
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Fangshan Wu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Yingwen Zhu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Kefeng Ma
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Xiujie Gao
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Miao Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China
| | - Bo Cui
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; School of Public Health and Management, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
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13
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Alquezar RD, Arregui L, Macedo RH, Gil D. Birds living near airports do not show consistently higher levels of feather corticosterone. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad079. [PMID: 37869263 PMCID: PMC10588694 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Noise represents a threat to human and wildlife health, triggering physiological and behavioral challenges to individuals living close to sources of extreme noise. Here, we considered airport environments as sources of potentially stressful stimuli for birds and tested if those living near airports are under higher physiological stress than birds living in quiet sites. We used measurements of CORT in feathers (CORTf) as a proxy of chronic stress. We evaluated 14 passerine and 1 non-passerine species, living near three Brazilian airports. We found that, across species, individuals with a better body condition had lower CORTf concentration. At the species level, we found that CORTf concentration was not consistently affected by airport noise. Comparing individuals living in quiet sites with those living near airports, we found that 2 species had higher and 2 had lower CORTf concentrations near airports, while 11 species presented no significant differences between sites. At the population level, model selection indicated that the direction and strength of these differences are weakly related to species' song frequency (peak frequency), as lower-frequency singers tended to present higher CORTf levels at airport-affected sites. In summary, we were unable to find a consistent response among species, probably due to species-specific differences in their response to anthropogenic disturbances. Instead, we found that species might be affected differently according to their singing spectral frequency and that individuals in good body condition show lower CORTf, suggesting that this measure is consistent with lower physiological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata D Alquezar
- PG em Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70919-970, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Lucía Arregui
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Regina H Macedo
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Diego Gil
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Vaddamanu SK, Alhamoudi FH, Binduhayyim RIH, AlJameel AH, Alwadi MAM, Di Blasio M, Cicciù M, Minervini G. Assessment of hearing performance of dental technicians due to the professional noise exposure. BMC Oral Health 2023; 23:685. [PMID: 37737170 PMCID: PMC10515415 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03392-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some of the noise-intensive processes in dental laboratories include the finishing of crowns, bridges, and removable partial dentures; blowing out workpieces with steam and compressed air; and deflating casting rings. High sound pressure levels are also present in dental vibrators, polishing equipment, and sandblasters. The aim of this study was to Evaluation of the effect of noise production in dental technology laboratory on dental technician hearing capacity. METHODS For this cross-sectional study, a total of 120 dental technicians were chosen. Otoscopic evaluation and the Weber test were used to establish if they had sensorineural or transmission hearing loss at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz, respectively. Then an OAER (objective auditory evoked response) and PTA (clinical aurimeter) test were administered (Neurosoft, Russia). The whole procedure was carried out by an audiologist and an ENT specialist. RESULTS The PTA results showed that the patient had mild hearing impairment overall, with the loss being more severe in the left ear than in the right. The OAE test results revealed that in-ear of the left side, 84.5% of subjects passed and 15.5% of subjects struggled and were referred to an ear specialist, whereas in the right ear, 82.7% of subjects passed and 17.3% struggled and were referred to an ear specialist. According to this study, in a right-handed study participant, the ear on the left side is more vulnerable than the right side. Differences in the mean hearing threshold at 4000 and 6000 Hz in the left ear were statistically significant in the groups of workers with eleven to fifteen years of practical experience and twenty-one to twenty-five years of practical experience, respectively (Minervini, et al. J Clin Med 12:2652, 2023). CONCLUSIONS A statistically meaningful threshold shift from 4000 to 6000 Hz is observed as the working experience grows, and this is suggestive of sensorineural hearing impairment brought on by the noisy dental environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Vaddamanu
- Department of Dental Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, 61421, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Fahad Hussain Alhamoudi
- Department of Dental Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, 61421, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rayan Ibrahim H Binduhayyim
- Department of Dental Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, 61421, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - AlBandary Hassan AlJameel
- Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maram Ali M Alwadi
- Dental Health Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marco Di Blasio
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Center of Dentistry,, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy.
| | - Marco Cicciù
- Department of Biomedical and Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Catania University, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Minervini
- Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples, Italy.
- Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India.
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15
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Yang M, Yoo H, Kim SY, Kwon O, Nam MW, Pan KH, Kang MY. Occupational Risk Factors for Stroke: A Comprehensive Review. J Stroke 2023; 25:327-337. [PMID: 37813670 PMCID: PMC10574301 DOI: 10.5853/jos.2023.01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
For primary prevention, it is important for public health and clinical medicine to identify and characterize modifiable risk factors of stroke. In existing literature, the impact of occupational variables on ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke has been extensively studied. This review summarizes the available data on the significance of occupational variables in stroke. The results of this review suggest that there is sufficient evidence for the relationship between increased risk of stroke and job stress, working in extreme temperatures, long working hours, and/or shift work. The association between long working hours and occupational exposure to noise and chemicals remains inconclusive although several studies have reported this finding. This review will act as a step toward future research and provide information that may serve as a baseline for developing targeted interventions to prevent stroke in the working population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munyoung Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyoungseob Yoo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seo-Young Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ohwi Kwon
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min-Woo Nam
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kwang Hyun Pan
- Department of Neurology, Anam Hospital, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mo-Yeol Kang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
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16
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Rahmanian M, Zare Sakhvidi MJ, Mehrparvar AH, Zare Sakhvidi F, Dadvand P. Association between occupational noise exposure and diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 252:114222. [PMID: 37454581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to the well-known risk factors of diabetes, evidence is accumulating on the negative role of environmental and occupational factors such as noise exposure. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between long-term occupational noise exposure and diabetes. METHODS We systematically searched evidence in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (until August 2022) according to the PRISMA protocol. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Random-effects meta-analysis was applied separately for risk ratio (odds ratio, relative risk) and hazard ratio. We evaluated the heterogeneity and publication bias. We applied meta-regressions to identify sources of heterogeneity. The overall body of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) framework. RESULTS Of 533 retrieved articles, twelve studies (11 on non-gestational, and one on gestational diabetes) on total 106,045 population (23,996 diabetic cases) met our inclusion criteria; of which eight studies were cross-sectional, three were cohorts, and one was case-control. Only 40% of papers (five out of 12) had fair, good or very good quality, and most of the papers had poor or very poor quality in terms of risk of bias. We observed a non-significant increased risk of diabetes in association with occupational noise exposure (combined risk estimates: 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97: 1.34; I2 = 57.7%). Doing separate meta-analyses on cohort and rest of studies, we found similar findings (cohort studies (n = 3): combined risk estimate: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.84: 1.50; I2 = 79%; cross-sectional studies (n = 8): combined risk estimate: 1.26; 95% CI: 0.93: 1.58; I2 = 50.4%). We found no indication of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS The overall evidence on the association between occupational noise exposure and diabetes is heterogeneous, limited, and mostly with low quality. More robust studies in terms of population selection, exposure and outcome assessment, and adjustment for confounders are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Rahmanian
- Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javad Zare Sakhvidi
- Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; Industrial Diseases Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
| | - Amir Houshang Mehrparvar
- Industrial Diseases Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Fariba Zare Sakhvidi
- Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
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17
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Andrade G. Electric shortages and mental health in Maracaibo, Venezuela: A cross-sectional study. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:2193-2201. [PMID: 36867404 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.23022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
For the past 10 years, Venezuela has undergone a severe electric crisis. However, not all regions have been equally affected. The city of Maracaibo has endured more blackouts than other cities, and they have now become routine. This article sought to study the impact of electric shortages on the mental health of Maracaibo's inhabitants. Using a sample from all districts in the city, the study sought to test if there are correlations between the number of hours without electricity (per week), and four dimensions of mental health: anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality, and boredom. Results came out showing that there are moderate correlations across all four variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Andrade
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
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18
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Liu D, Kwan MP, Kan Z, Liu Y. Examining individual-level tri-exposure to greenspace and air/noise pollution using individual-level GPS-based real-time sensing data. Soc Sci Med 2023; 329:116040. [PMID: 37356190 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although exposure to air/noise pollution and greenspace has been found to significantly affect people's physical and mental health outcomes, there is still a lack of knowledge on what built-environment and socioeconomic factors are significantly associated with people's tri-exposure to air/noise pollution and greenspace. This study analyzes the associations between built-environment and socioeconomic factors and the tri-exposure to greenspace and air/noise pollution in Hong Kong. METHOD Based on individual-level activity data, real-time GPS trajectories, and exposure data collected by portable sensors as well as remote sensing satellite imagery, we employ multinomial logistic regression to determine the socioeconomic and built-environment factors that are significantly associated with the type of participants' tri-exposure at the grid cell level. RESULTS The results show that higher transit nodal accessibility, building density, building height and land-use mix are significantly associated with a higher likelihood of being disadvantaged in terms of tri-exposure to air/noise pollution and greenspace. While more advantageous tri-exposures are significantly related to higher median monthly household income and sky view factor. CONCLUSION Old high-rise high-density neighborhoods are more likely to be triply disadvantaged with low greenspace exposure but high air pollution and noise pollution exposure. The findings provide policymakers with critical reference in terms of addressing the inequalities in the tri-exposure outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Institute of Future Cities, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Mei-Po Kwan
- Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Zihan Kan
- Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Yang Liu
- Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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Baumann O, Brooks-Cederqvist B. Multimodal assessment of effects of urban environments on psychological wellbeing. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16433. [PMID: 37251474 PMCID: PMC10220363 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The built environment is a ubiquitous factor of modern human life, which fundamentally affects human wellbeing. Most existing research on the psychological effects of urban environments is predominantly based on subjective self-report measures, which provide valuable insights into subjective experiences, but are also affected by conscious and subconscious bias. In the current study, we evaluate a multimodal approach to capturing wellbeing by employing objective mobile physiological and neurophysiological measurement technologies alongside self-reports to capture the impact of two different urban environments. Moreover, we endeavoured to comprehensively measure and, when possible, control the physical aspects of the environment. Our study specifically aimed to discover differences between psychological wellbeing indicators in adults across low-density vs. moderate-density urban environments. Data collection took place in two urban outdoor locations in Australia. Statistical comparison of the two locations indicated that low urban density led to comparatively higher levels of psychological wellbeing compared to moderate urban density. Self-reports indicated that the low-density environment led to higher levels of subjective feelings of comfort and safety and reduced levels of negative mood. In line with the subjective reports, in the low-density environment compared to the moderate-density environment, individuals showed higher levels of EEG theta activity, while EEG beta and heart rate measures were lower. The research outcome provides insights into how urban density affects people's wellbeing and showcases the benefits of employing ecologically-valid multimodal psychological-environmental measurement approaches to effectively evaluate the psychological impacts of built environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. Baumann
- Corresponding author. School of Psychology, Bond University, 14 University Drive, 4226 Robina, Qld, Australia.
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20
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Benavides J, Rowland ST, Do V, Goldsmith J, Kioumourtzoglou MA. Unintended impacts of the Open Streets program on noise complaints in New York City. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 224:115501. [PMID: 36796610 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, several cities allocated more public spaces for physical activity and recreation instead of road transport through Open Streets. This policy locally reduces traffic and provides experimental testbeds for healthier cities. However, it may also generate unintended impacts. For instance, Open Streets may impact the levels of exposure to environmental noise but there are no studies assessing these unintended impacts. OBJECTIVES Using noise complaints from New York City (NYC) as a proxy of annoyance caused by environmental noise, we estimated associations at the census tract level between same-day proportion of Open Streets in a census tract and noise complaints in NYC. METHODS Using data from summer 2019 (pre-implementation) and summer 2021 (post-implementation), we fit regressions to estimate the association between census tract-level proportion of Open Streets and daily noise complaints, with random effects to account for within-tract correlation and natural splines to allow non-linearity in the estimated association. We accounted for temporal trends and other potential confounders, such as population density and poverty rate. RESULTS In adjusted analyses, daily street/sidewalk noise complaints were nonlinearly associated with an increasing proportion of Open Streets. Specifically, compared to the mean proportion of Open Streets in a census tract (0.11%), 5% of Open Streets had a 1.09 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.20) and 10% had a 1.21 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.42) times higher rate of street/sidewalk noise complaints. Our results were robust to the choice of data source for identifying Open Streets. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that Open Streets in NYC may be linked to an increase in street/sidewalk noise complaints. These results highlight the necessity to reinforce urban policies with a careful analysis for potential unintended impacts to optimize and maximize the benefits of these policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Benavides
- Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, NY, USA.
| | - Sebastian T Rowland
- Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, NY, USA; PSE Healthy Energy, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Vivian Do
- Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, NY, USA
| | - Jeff Goldsmith
- Dept. of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, NY, USA
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21
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Roswall N, Thacher JD, Ögren M, Pyko A, Åkesson A, Oudin A, Tjønneland A, Rosengren A, Poulsen AH, Eriksson C, Segersson D, Rizzuto D, Helte E, Andersson EM, Aasvang GM, Gudjonsdottir H, Khan J, Selander J, Christensen JH, Brandt J, Leander K, Mattisson K, Eneroth K, Stucki L, Barregard L, Stockfelt L, Albin M, Simonsen MK, Spanne M, Jousilahti P, Tiittanen P, Molnàr P, Ljungman PLS, Yli-Tuomi T, Cole-Hunter T, Lanki T, Hvidtfeldt UA, Lim YH, Andersen ZJ, Pershagen G, Sørensen M. Long-term exposure to traffic noise and risk of incident colon cancer: A pooled study of eleven Nordic cohorts. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 224:115454. [PMID: 36764429 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Background Colon cancer incidence is rising globally, and factors pertaining to urbanization have been proposed involved in this development. Traffic noise may increase colon cancer risk by causing sleep disturbance and stress, thereby inducing known colon cancer risk-factors, e.g. obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption, but few studies have examined this. Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the association between traffic noise and colon cancer (all, proximal, distal) in a pooled population of 11 Nordic cohorts, totaling 155,203 persons. Methods We identified residential address history and estimated road, railway, and aircraft noise, as well as air pollution, for all addresses, using similar exposure models across cohorts. Colon cancer cases were identified through national registries. We analyzed data using Cox Proportional Hazards Models, adjusting main models for harmonized sociodemographic and lifestyle data. Results During follow-up (median 18.8 years), 2757 colon cancer cases developed. We found a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.05 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99-1.10) per 10-dB higher 5-year mean time-weighted road traffic noise. In sub-type analyses, the association seemed confined to distal colon cancer: HR 1.06 (95% CI: 0.98-1.14). Railway and aircraft noise was not associated with colon cancer, albeit there was some indication in sub-type analyses that railway noise may also be associated with distal colon cancer. In interaction-analyses, the association between road traffic noise and colon cancer was strongest among obese persons and those with high NO2-exposure. Discussion A prominent study strength is the large population with harmonized data across eleven cohorts, and the complete address-history during follow-up. However, each cohort estimated noise independently, and only at the most exposed façade, which may introduce exposure misclassification. Despite this, the results of this pooled study suggest that traffic noise may be a risk factor for colon cancer, especially of distal origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Roswall
- Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Jesse D Thacher
- Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mikael Ögren
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andrei Pyko
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Agneta Åkesson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Oudin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Division of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Sweden
| | - Anne Tjønneland
- Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annika Rosengren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Aslak H Poulsen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Charlotta Eriksson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Segersson
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Debora Rizzuto
- Aging Research Centre, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Gerontology Research Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emilie Helte
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva M Andersson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gunn Marit Aasvang
- Department of Air Quality and Noise, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hrafnhildur Gudjonsdottir
- Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jibran Khan
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health (BERTHA), Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jenny Selander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Jørgen Brandt
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Karin Leander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristoffer Mattisson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Lara Stucki
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Barregard
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Leo Stockfelt
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maria Albin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mette K Simonsen
- Department of Neurology and the Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Mårten Spanne
- Environment Department, City of Malmö, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Pekka Jousilahti
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pekka Tiittanen
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Peter Molnàr
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Petter L S Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tarja Yli-Tuomi
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Thomas Cole-Hunter
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Timo Lanki
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland; School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ulla A Hvidtfeldt
- Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Youn-Hee Lim
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zorana J Andersen
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Göran Pershagen
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mette Sørensen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Department of Natural Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark.
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22
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Nguyen TTHN, Trieu BL, Nguyen TL, Morinaga M, Hiraguri Y, Morihara T, Sasazawa Y, Nguyen TQH, Yano T. Models of Aviation Noise Impact in the Context of Operation Decrease at Tan Son Nhat Airport. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5450. [PMID: 37107732 PMCID: PMC10138603 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Air traffic bans in response to the spread of the coronavirus have changed the sound situation of urban areas around airports. This study aimed to investigate the effect of this unprecedented event on the community response to noise before and after the international flight operation at Tan Son Nhat Airport (TSN) in March 2020. The "before" survey was conducted in August 2019, and the two "after" surveys were conducted in June and September 2020. Structural equation models (SEMs) for noise annoyance and insomnia were developed by linking the questionnaire items of the social surveys. The first effort aimed to achieve a common model of noise annoyance and insomnia, corresponding to the situation before and after the change, respectively. Approximately, 1200 responses were obtained from surveys conducted in 12 residential areas around TSN in 2019 and 2020. The average daily flight numbers observed in August 2019 during the two surveys conducted in 2020 were 728, 413, and 299, respectively. The sound pressure levels of the 12 sites around TSN decreased from 45-81 dB (mean = 64, SD = 9.8) in 2019 to 41-76 dB (mean = 60, SD = 9.8) and 41-73 dB (mean = 59, SD = 9.3) in June and September 2020, respectively. The SEM indicated that the residents' health was related to increased annoyance and insomnia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bach Lien Trieu
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Shimane University, Matsue 690-8504, Japan
| | - Thu Lan Nguyen
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Shimane University, Matsue 690-8504, Japan
| | - Makoto Morinaga
- Department of Architecture and Building Engineering, Faculty of Architecture and Building Engineering, Kanagawa University, Yokohama 221-8686, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Hiraguri
- Department of Architecture, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashiosaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Takashi Morihara
- Department of Architecture, National Institute of Technology, Ishikawa College, Kitachujo, Tsubata 929-0392, Japan
| | - Yosiaki Sasazawa
- Faculty of Education, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nakagami, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Tri Quang Hung Nguyen
- Faculty of Environment and Resources, Nong Lam University, 6, Linh Trung, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Takashi Yano
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
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23
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Kok ACM, Berkhout BW, Carlson NV, Evans NP, Khan N, Potvin DA, Radford AN, Sebire M, Shafiei Sabet S, Shannon G, Wascher CAF. How chronic anthropogenic noise can affect wildlife communities. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1130075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is a major pollutant in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Since the industrial revolution, human activities have become increasingly noisy, leading to both acute and chronic disturbance of a wide variety of animals. Chronic noise exposure can affect animals over their lifespan, leading to changes in species interactions and likely altering communities. However, the community-level impacts of chronic noise are not well-understood, which impairs our ability for effective mitigation. In this review, we address the effects of chronic noise exposure on communities and explore possible mechanisms underlying these effects. The limited studies on this topic suggest that noise can affect communities by changing the behavior and/or physiology of species in a community, which results in direct or knock-on consequences for other species in the ecosystem. Major knowledge gaps remain due to the logistically complex and financially expensive nature of the long-term studies needed to address these questions. By identifying these gaps and suggesting approaches to answer them, we provide a road map toward mitigating the effects of a noisy world.
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24
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Raja RV, Sriraman G, Kameswaran M. Noise Pollution and Associated Hearing Loss in a Metropolitan City-a Preliminary Report. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023; 75:278-284. [PMID: 37206820 PMCID: PMC10188883 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-022-03432-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
To measure the amount of noise produced in busy parts of a metropolitan and also to assess the audiological status of the civilians exposed to such noise. Cross-sectional study for one year between June 2017 and May 2018 was conducted. Noise was measured in four busy parts of an urban city with a digital sound level meter. People involved in various occupations in the busy parts for more than one year within the age range of 15-45 years were included. Maximum noise level recorded was 106.4 dBA in Koyembedu. Average noise was around 70-85 dBA in Chennai. Totally 100 people were subjected to audiological assessment (69 Males; 31 Females). Among them 93% had hearing loss. Hearing loss was almost equal both in sexes. Sensory hearing loss was the major type (83%). All areas were almost equally affected with maximum (100%) being affected in Annanagar and Koyembedu. The right ear was more affected than the left. All age groups were affected among which the working age group (36-45) years was most affected. The unskilled occupation group was most affected (100%). There was a positive relation between noise levels and hearing loss. Duration of exposure did not have positive correlation with hearing loss. Noise pollution and its induced hearing loss was more prevalent and increased in all four areas. As hearing loss due to noise pollution is predominant as observed in the study, awareness about noise pollution and its effects among the community is a necessity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gurumani Sriraman
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands India
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25
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Bao S, Zhang M, Bu X, Zhang W, Jiang Z, Xie Z. Combinatorial Structural Engineering of Multichannel Hierarchical Hollow Microspheres Assembled from Centripetal Fe/C Nanosheets to Achieve Effective Integration of Sound Absorption and Microwave Absorption. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:13565-13575. [PMID: 36861486 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Electromagnetic radiation and noise pollution are two of the four major environmental pollution sources. Although various materials with excellent microwave absorption performances or sound absorption properties have been manufactured, it is still a great challenge to design materials with both microwave absorption and sound absorption abilities due to different energy consumption mechanisms. Herein, a combination strategy based on structural engineering was proposed to develop bi-functional hierarchical Fe/C hollow microspheres composed of centripetal Fe/C nanosheets. Both of the interconnected channels created by multiple gaps among the adjacent Fe/C nanosheets and the hollow structure have positive effects on the absorbing performances by promoting the penetration of microwaves and acoustic waves and prolonging action time between microwave energy and acoustic energy with materials. In addition, a polymer-protection strategy and a high-temperature reduction process were applied to keep this unique morphology and further improve the performances of the composite. As a result, the optimized hierarchical Fe/C-500 hollow composite exhibits a wide effective absorption bandwidth of 7.52 GHz (10.48-18.00 GHz) at only 1.75 mm. Furthermore, the Fe/C-500 composite can effectively absorb sound wave in the frequency of 1209-3307 Hz, basically including part of the low frequency range (<2000 Hz) and most of the medium frequency range (2000-3500 Hz), and has 90% absorption of sound at 1721-1962 Hz. This work puts new insight into the engineering and development of microwave absorption-sound absorption-integrated functional materials with promising applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susu Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Meixi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xiangjian Bu
- Department of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Department of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Zhiyuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Zhaoxiong Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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26
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Long-Term Exposure to Dust and Noise Can Increase the Risk of Hypertension-A Population Based, Cross-sectional Study. J Occup Environ Med 2023; 65:e128-e133. [PMID: 36528801 PMCID: PMC9988235 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to assess whether occupational groups exposed to dust and noise increase their risk of developing hypertension and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of exposure factors on the occurrence of hypertension, and confounding factors were adjusted to identify independent effects. Stratified analysis and smoothed curve fitting were used to explore the effects in different populations. RESULTS Combined dust + noise exposure significantly increased the risk of hypertension in workers (model 1: odds ratio [OR], 2.75; model 2: OR, 2.66; model 3: OR, 2.85). Further analysis showed that when exposed to dust and noise for more than 17 years, the risk of hypertension increased by 15%. CONCLUSIONS The combined exposure of dust and noise significantly increases the risk of hypertension among occupational groups, especially among workers who have worked for more than 17 years.
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27
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Comparison of static and dynamic exposures to air pollution, noise, and greenness among seniors living in compact-city environments. Int J Health Geogr 2023; 22:3. [PMID: 36709304 PMCID: PMC9884423 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-023-00325-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
GPS technology and tracking study designs have gained popularity as a tool to go beyond the limitations of static exposure assessments based on the subject's residence. These dynamic exposure assessment methods offer high potential upside in terms of accuracy but also disadvantages in terms of cost, sample sizes, and types of data generated. Because of that, with our study we aim to understand in which cases researchers need to use GPS-based methods to guarantee the necessary accuracy in exposure assessment. With a sample of 113 seniors living in Barcelona (Spain) we compare their estimated daily exposures to air pollution (PM2.5, PM10, NO2), noise (dB), and greenness (NDVI) using static and dynamic exposure assessment techniques. Results indicate that significant differences between static and dynamic exposure assessments are only present in selected exposures, and would thus suggest that static assessments using the place of residence would provide accurate-enough values across a number of exposures in the case of seniors. Our models for Barcelona's seniors suggest that dynamic exposure would only be required in the case of exposure to smaller particulate matter (PM2.5) and exposure to noise levels. The study signals to the need to consider both the mobility patterns and the built environment context when deciding between static or dynamic measures of exposure assessment.
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28
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Fasllija E, Yilmazer S. Investigating the Potential of Transparent Parallel-Arranged Micro-Perforated Panels (MPPs) as Sound Absorbers in Classrooms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1445. [PMID: 36674200 PMCID: PMC9859406 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic deficiencies due to lack of absorption in indoor spaces may sometime render significant buildings unfit for their purpose, especially the ones used as speech auditoria. This study investigates the potential of designing wideband acoustic absorbers composed of parallel-arranged micro-perforated panels (MPPs), known as efficient absorbers that do not need any other fibrous/porous material to have a high absorptive performance. It aims to integrate architectural trends such as transparency and the use of raw materials with acoustical constraints to ensure optimal indoor acoustic conditions. It proposes a structure composed of four parallel-arranged MPPs, which have been theoretically modelled using the electrical Equivalent Circuit Model (ECM) and implemented on an acrylic prototype using recent techniques such as CNC machining tools. The resulting samples are experimentally analysed for their absorption efficiency through the ISO-10534-2 method in an impedance tube. The results show that the prediction model and the experimental data are in good agreement. Afterward, the investigation focuses on applying the most absorptive MPP structure in a classroom without acoustic treatment through numerical simulations in ODEON 16 Acoustics Software. When the proposed material is installed as a wall panel, the results show an improvement toward optimum values in Reverberation Time (RT30) and Speech Transmission Index (STI).
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29
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Talapatra S, Parvez M, Saha P, Kibria MG, Hoque A. Musculoskeletal risk factors assessment based on exploratory factor analysis and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process. THEORETICAL ISSUES IN ERGONOMICS SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/1463922x.2022.2157065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Talapatra
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - M.S. Parvez
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - P. Saha
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - M. G. Kibria
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - A.S.M. Hoque
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
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30
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Farooqi ZUR, Ahmad I, Ditta A, Ilic P, Amin M, Naveed AB, Gulzar A. Types, sources, socioeconomic impacts, and control strategies of environmental noise: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:81087-81111. [PMID: 36201075 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23328-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zia Ur Rahman Farooqi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Iftikhar Ahmad
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Allah Ditta
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal Dir (U),, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18000, Pakistan.
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Predrag Ilic
- PSRI Institute for protection and ecology of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, Vidovdanska 43, 78000, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Muhammad Amin
- Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Abdul Basit Naveed
- School of Natural Science, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, 44320, Pakistan
| | - Aadil Gulzar
- Deptartment of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J & K, 190006, India
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31
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Kang MY. Occupational risk factors for hypertension. J Hypertens 2022; 40:2102-2110. [PMID: 35950984 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The identification and characterization of the modifiable risk factors of hypertension is of great value for public health and clinical medicine to achieve primary prevention. A large amount of literature on the effects of occupational factors on blood pressure and hypertension has been published. In this review, I summarize current evidence regarding the role of occupational factors in hypertension. The results of this review suggest that there is sufficient evidence to support the association between increased risk of hypertension and job stress, shift work, occupational lead exposure, and noise exposure. The association of hypertension with physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, and occupational exposure to mercury, arsenic, cadmium, or carbon disulfide remains inconclusive, although several studies have reported this finding. This review will serve as a step toward future research and provide baseline information for developing strategic interventions to prevent hypertension in the working population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo-Yeol Kang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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32
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Lucas D, Guerrero F, Jouve E, Hery S, Capellmann P, Mansourati J. Effect of occupational exposure to welding fumes and noise on heart rate variability: An exposed-unexposed study on welders and airport workers' population. Front Public Health 2022; 10:937774. [PMID: 36249234 PMCID: PMC9554501 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.937774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Welding fumes (WF) are a complex mixture of gas and particles. Action of occupational exposure to WF on cardiovascular system has been recently studied as for noise. Research question The main objectives of our study are therefore to evaluate the impact of exposure to WF, noise, and combined WF and noise on autonomic nervous system as assessed by heart rate variability (HRV). Methods The study groups were 16 welders and eight airport workers (as a control group). All the participants underwent ambulatory electrocardiogram, personal WF, and noise exposure monitoring, respectively, with dust track and calibrated noise dosimeter during workday. Atmospheric environmental assessments at workplaces have been also performed. HRV parameters were summarized for all the workday and hourly. Correlation tests were used to examine relation between HRV parameters and levels of noise exposure in the two population. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for mean of each HRV parameters. Results For HRV parameters, we found significant higher levels for mean range of high frequency (HF), standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R interval (SDNN), and root mean square of successive heartbeat interval difference (RMSSD) in welders which suggested an imbalance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in this population. For relation between noise and HRV parameters, we noted that levels of low frequency (LF), HF, and SDNN were significantly correlated with mean noise levels for welders (respectively, r = 0.62, r = 0.357, r = 0.48), not in control group. Using ANCOVA, we found that working as a welder significantly increases mean of HF (p = 0.01) and RMSSD (p = 0.02) and decreases in LF/HF (p = 0.008). Indeed, the interaction between exposure to WF and mean noise levels for HF (p = 0.005), LF/HF (p = 0.01), and RMSSD (p = 0.007) was significant. Conclusion This study shows an impact of WF and noise on ANS balance. One hypothesis is WF exposure could increase sensibility to noise exposure on autonomic nervous system or there is a synergic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lucas
- Center of Environmental and Occupational Diseases, Department of Occupational Health, Brest Teaching Hospital, Brest, France,ORPHY Laboratory, Department of Sciences, Occidental Brittany University Brest, Brest, France,*Correspondence: David Lucas
| | - François Guerrero
- ORPHY Laboratory, Department of Sciences, Occidental Brittany University Brest, Brest, France
| | - Emmanuel Jouve
- Carsat Bretagne (Regional Agency of Occupational Health), Department of Occupational Prevention, Rennes, France
| | - Sophie Hery
- Occupational Health Service, Department of Occupational Prevention, Naval Group, Brest, France
| | - Pascale Capellmann
- Iroise Occupational Health Service, Department of Occupational Prevention 22 Rue de Kervezennec, Brest, France
| | - Jacques Mansourati
- ORPHY Laboratory, Department of Sciences, Occidental Brittany University Brest, Brest, France,Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Brest Teaching Hospital, Brest, France
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Vasudevamurthy S, Kumar U A. Effect of Occupational Noise Exposure on Cognition and Suprathreshold Auditory Skills in Normal-Hearing Individuals. Am J Audiol 2022; 31:1098-1115. [PMID: 35998292 DOI: 10.1044/2022_aja-22-00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Adverse effects of noise exposure on hearing and cognition are well documented in the literature. Recently, it has becoming increasingly evident that noise exposure deteriorates suprathreshold auditory skills, even though the hearing sensitivity is intact. This condition is termed as cochlear synaptopathy or hidden hearing loss, which is apparent in animal models. However, equivocal findings are reported in humans. This study aimed at assessing the working memory, attention abilities, and suprathreshold hearing abilities in normal-hearing individuals with and without occupational noise exposure. We also explored the relationship between cognitive measures and suprathreshold auditory measures. DESIGN The study participants were divided into two groups. All the participants had normal-hearing thresholds. The control group consisted of 25 individuals with no occupational noise exposure, whereas the noise exposure group had 25 individuals exposed to occupational noise of 85 dBA for a minimum period of 1 year. Working memory was assessed using auditory digit span (forward and backward), operation span, and reading span. The Erikson flanker test was used to evaluate attention abilities. The suprathreshold hearing was assessed in terms of gap detection thresholds and sentence identification in noise. RESULTS The results showed that the noise exposure group performed poorly compared to the control group on all auditory and cognitive tasks except the reading span. CONCLUSION The results of the study suggest that occupational noise exposure may hamper the cognitive skills and suprathreshold hearing abilities of the individual despite having normal peripheral hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ajith Kumar U
- Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru
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Thacher JD, Poulsen AH, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Hvidtfeldt UA, Brandt J, Christensen JH, Khan J, Levin G, Münzel T, Sørensen M. Exposure to transportation noise and risk for cardiovascular disease in a nationwide cohort study from Denmark. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 211:113106. [PMID: 35304113 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transportation noise increases the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), but few studies have investigated subtypes of IHD, such as myocardial infarction (MI), angina pectoris, or heart failure. We aimed to study whether exposure to road, railway and aircraft noise increased risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD), IHD subtypes, and heart failure in the entire adult Danish population, investigating exposures at both maximum exposed and silent façades of each residence. METHODS We modelled road, railway, and aircraft noise at the most and least exposed façades for the period 1995-2017 for all addresses in Denmark and calculated 10-year time-weighted running means for 2.5 million individuals age ≥50 years, of whom 122,523 developed IHD and 79,358 developed heart failure during follow-up (2005-2017). Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for individual and area-level sociodemographic covariates and air pollution. RESULTS We found road traffic noise at the most exposed façade (Lden) to be associated with higher risk of IHD, myocardial infarction (MI), angina pectoris, and heart failure, with hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals (CI)) of 1.052 (1.044-1.059), 1.041 (1.032-1.051), 1.095 (1.071-1.119), and 1.039 (1.033-1.045) per 10 dB higher 10-year mean exposure, respectively. These associations followed a near-linear exposure-response relationship and were robust to adjustment for air pollution with PM2.5. Railway noise at the least exposed façade was associated with heart failure (HR 1.28; 95% CI: 1.004-1.053), but not the other outcomes. Exposure to aircraft noise (>45 dB) seemed associated with increased risk for MI and heart failure. CONCLUSIONS We found road traffic noise and potentially railway and aircraft noise to increase risk of various major cardiovascular outcomes, highlighting the importance of preventive actions towards transportation noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Thacher
- Diet, Genes and Environment, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Aslak H Poulsen
- Diet, Genes and Environment, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Raaschou-Nielsen
- Diet, Genes and Environment, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ulla A Hvidtfeldt
- Diet, Genes and Environment, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Brandt
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; iClimate, Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Jibran Khan
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health (BERTHA), Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Gregor Levin
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas Münzel
- University Medical Center Mainz of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Center for Cardiology, Cardiology I, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mette Sørensen
- Diet, Genes and Environment, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Natural Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
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35
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Lee HP, Kumar S, Garg S, Lim KM. Assessment of in-cabin noise of wide-body aircrafts. APPLIED ACOUSTICS. ACOUSTIQUE APPLIQUE. ANGEWANDTE AKUSTIK 2022; 194:108809. [PMID: 35540109 PMCID: PMC9074885 DOI: 10.1016/j.apacoust.2022.108809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The aviation industry has seen dramatic growth over the decades till the recent disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, long-haul routes with a distance of more than 4000 km are common for major airlines worldwide. Therefore, aircraft cabin noise assessment is essential, especially in long-haul flights, for passenger and flight crew health wellness. In this paper, the cabin noise of five wide-body aircraft, namely Airbus A330-300ER, A350-900, A380-800, and Boeing B777-200ER and B787-900, was recorded using a calibrated in-house developed smartphone application. The sound pressure levels of in-cabin noise have been measured on two different decibel scales, namely, A-weighted [dB(A)] and C-weighted scales [dB(C)]. The sound pressure levels of Airbus A380-800 were lowest among selected models, while the in-cabin pressure level values of Airbus A350-900 were maximum. However, the difference in decibel levels between the aircraft is minimal as it is within 3 dB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heow Pueh Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Singapore
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Singapore
| | - Saurabh Garg
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Singapore
| | - Kian Meng Lim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Singapore
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Effects of Auditory Pre-Stimulation on Cognitive Task Performance in a Noisy Environment. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12125823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Pérez-Crespo L, Kusters MSW, López-Vicente M, Lubczyńska MJ, Foraster M, White T, Hoek G, Tiemeier H, Muetzel RL, Guxens M. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution and noise during pregnancy and childhood, and functional brain connectivity in preadolescents. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 164:107275. [PMID: 35580436 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amount of people affected by traffic-related air pollution and noise is continuously increasing, but limited research has been conducted on the association between these environmental exposures and functional brain connectivity in children. OBJECTIVE This exploratory study aimed to analyze the associations between the exposure to traffic-related air pollution and noise during pregnancy and childhood, and functional brain connectivity amongst a wide-swath of brain areas in preadolescents from 9 to 12 years of age. METHODS We used data of 2,197 children from the Generation R Study. Land use regression models were applied to estimate nitrogen oxides and particulate matter levels at participant's homes for several time periods: pregnancy, birth to 3 years, 3 to 6 years, and 6 years of age to the age at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment. Existing noise maps were used to estimate road traffic noise exposure at participant's homes for the same time periods. Resting-state functional MRI was obtained at 9-12 years of age. Pair-wise correlation coefficients of the blood-oxygen-level-dependent signals between 380 brain areas were calculated. Linear regressions were run and corrected for multiple testing. RESULTS Preadolescents exposed to higher levels of NO2, NOx, and PM2.5 absorbance, from birth to 3 years, and from 3 to 6 years of age showed higher correlation coefficients among several brain regions (e.g. from 0.16 to 0.19 higher correlation coefficient related to PM2.5 absorbance exposure, depending on the brain connection). Overall, most identified associations were between brain regions of the task positive and task negative networks, and were mainly inter-network (20 of 26). Slightly more than half of the connections were intra-hemispheric (14 of 26), predominantly in the right hemisphere. Road traffic noise was not associated with functional brain connectivity. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory study found that exposure to traffic-related air pollution during the first years of life was related to higher functional brain connectivity predominantly in brain areas located in the task positive and task negative networks, in preadolescents from 9 to 12 years of age. These results could be an indicator of differential functional connectivity in children exposed to higher levels of air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pérez-Crespo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Michelle S W Kusters
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Mónica López-Vicente
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Małgorzata J Lubczyńska
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Foraster
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Lull (URL), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Tonya White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Gerard Hoek
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, USA.
| | - Ryan L Muetzel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Sadeghian M, Mohammadi Z, Mousavi SM. Investigation of electroencephalography variations of mental workload in the exposure of the psychoacoustic in both male and female groups. Cogn Neurodyn 2022; 16:561-574. [PMID: 35603054 PMCID: PMC9120311 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-021-09737-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Most studies have examined the effect of the physical aspects of noise while the effect of exposure to psychoacoustic parameters at different task difficulty levels has been less evaluated. Therefore, this study was performed with the aim of investigating the brainwave in the face of psychoacoustic and the change of difficulty level of task. 120 persons were exposed to 16 psychoacoustic parameters (loudness, sharpness, roughness and fluctuation strength). Each person was asked to complete the three N-Back task difficulty levels. At the same time, brain waves were recorded and the subject completed the NASA-TLX questionnaire. Finally, brain indices including alpha1, alpha2, PrTeta, PrAlpha and EI were examined. With increasing loudness, sharpness and fluctuation, the alpha-1 and alpha-2 index (mental fatigue (increased. Loudness and roughness also increased the PrTeta and PrAlpha (annoyance). For the EI (Engagement Index), increasing fluctuation caused a decrease in the level of consciousness and engagement. In addition, exposure to psychoacoustic parameters at high and medium difficulty levels caused a greater effect on alpha, alpha2, PrTeta and PrAlpha indices. High level of difficulty task reduce the accuracy rate and increase the reaction time to stimuli in the N-Back task, and increase the mean of dimensions of the NASA-TLX questionnaire in the exposure of all psychoacoustic aspect.With increasing loudness, sharpness and fluctuation, the alpha-1 and alpha-2 index (mental fatigue (increased. Loudness and roughness also increased the PrTeta and PrAlpha (annoyance). For the EI (Engagement Index), increasing fluctuation caused a decrease in the level of consciousness and engagement. In addition, exposure to psychoacoustic parameters at high and medium difficulty levels caused a greater effect on alpha, alpha2, PrTeta and PrAlpha indices. High level of difficulty task reduce the accuracy rate and increase the reaction time to stimuli in the N-Back task, and increase the mean of dimensions of the NASA-TLX questionnaire in the exposure of all psychoacoustic aspect. Considering the effect of psychoacoustic at different levels of task difficulty on the mental load and cognitive function is essential to prevent damage to the person and his performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Sadeghian
- Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Zahra Mohammadi
- PhD student, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Student Research Committee, School of Public Health and safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahdi Mousavi
- MSc, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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Mu J, Kang J. Indoor Environmental Quality of Residential Elderly Care Facilities in Northeast China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:860976. [PMID: 35602153 PMCID: PMC9116475 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.860976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The indoor environmental quality is based on the indoor environmental performance of buildings, such as air temperature, lighting, and acoustics. These parameters have a specific impact on users' health and experience. This study explores the relationship between the indoor environment of residential elderly care facilities in cold regions and the sensitivity of the elderly to these facilities with the aim of improving the elderly care environment. This study measured the acoustic, lighting, and thermal environment in four residential elderly care facilities in Northeast China in spring, summer, autumn, and winter through a participant survey. In the residential elderly care facilities surveyed in this study, brightness and illuminance show a nonlinear relationship with lighting evaluation. With an increase in brightness and illuminance, the satisfaction of the lighting environment in different seasons first increases and then decreases. The relative humidity of the different types of rooms varies greatly in spring and less in winter. The average air quality score of the bedroom is higher than that of the activity room. The correlation between odor assessment and overall indoor environmental quality is very poor. The results of the questionnaire survey indicate that the participants were satisfied with the facilities' overall indoor environmental quality. This quality is affected by physical, environmental, and demographic factors. This study provides a reference for the design of other residential elderly care facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Mu
- School of Architecture, Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Jian Kang
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Bañuelos Gimeno J, Blanco A, Díaz J, Linares C, López JA, Navas MA, Sánchez-Martínez G, Luna Y, Hervella B, Belda F, Culqui DR. Air pollution and meteorological variables' effects on COVID-19 first and second waves in Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : IJEST 2022; 20:2869-2882. [PMID: 35529588 PMCID: PMC9065237 DOI: 10.1007/s13762-022-04190-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The aim of this research is to study the influence of atmospheric pollutants and meteorological variables on the incidence rate of COVID-19 and the rate of hospital admissions due to COVID-19 during the first and second waves in nine Spanish provinces. Numerous studies analyze the effect of environmental and pollution variables separately, but few that include them in the same analysis together, and even fewer that compare their effects between the first and second waves of the virus. This study was conducted in nine of 52 Spanish provinces, using generalized linear models with Poisson link between levels of PM10, NO2 and O3 (independent variables) and maximum temperature and absolute humidity and the rates of incidence and hospital admissions of COVID-19 (dependent variables), establishing a series of significant lags. Using the estimators obtained from the significant multivariate models, the relative risks associated with these variables were calculated for increases of 10 µg/m3 for pollutants, 1 °C for temperature and 1 g/m3 for humidity. The results suggest that NO2 has a greater association than the other air pollution variables and the meteorological variables. There was a greater association with O3 in the first wave and with NO2 in the second. Pollutants showed a homogeneous distribution across the country. We conclude that, compared to other air pollutants and meteorological variables, NO2 is a protagonist that may modulate the incidence and severity of COVID-19, though preventive public health measures such as masking and hand washing are still very important. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13762-022-04190-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Bañuelos Gimeno
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Arzobispo Morcillo, 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - A. Blanco
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - J. Díaz
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - C. Linares
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - J. A. López
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - M. A. Navas
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Y. Luna
- State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), CALLE RIOS ROSAS, 44, Madrid, Spain
| | - B. Hervella
- State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), CALLE RIOS ROSAS, 44, Madrid, Spain
| | - F. Belda
- State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), CALLE RIOS ROSAS, 44, Madrid, Spain
| | - D. R. Culqui
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Audrin T, Apparicio P, Séguin AM. Aircraft noise and environmental equity in Montréal: A comparison of noise indicators and an analysis of the impacts of COVID-19. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH. PART D, TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 106:103274. [PMID: 35966824 PMCID: PMC9358621 DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2022.103274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
From an environmental equity perspective, the aim of this paper is twofold. First, we want to verify to what extent vulnerable population groups resided in areas exposed to high levels of aircraft noise before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019 and 2020) in the Montréal census metropolitan area. Second, we want to identify whether the use of an aircraft noise indicator rather than another generates significant variations in the results and consequently in terms of affected areas and populations. With the IMPACT web-application, we model aircraft noise contours from three cumulative (Lden , Ldn , Laeq ,24h) and a single-event (LAmax ) metrics. The model's input data are retrieved by a website for flight tracking. Next, four variables are extracted from the 2016 Statistics Canada census at a fine scale level (dissemination areas): that is, the percentages of low-income individuals, visible minorities, children under 15 years old, and individuals aged 65 and over. The results show a significant drop in population exposed to aircraft noise in 2020 compared to 2019. In addition, the estimates of populations impacted by aircraft noise differ from one indicator to the next. The logistic regression models indicate that the inequities are inconsistent between cumulative and single-event metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Audrin
- Institut National de la recherche scientifique, 385 rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal H2X 1E3, Canada
| | - Philippe Apparicio
- Institut National de la recherche scientifique, 385 rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal H2X 1E3, Canada
| | - Anne-Marie Séguin
- Institut National de la recherche scientifique, 385 rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal H2X 1E3, Canada
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Toxicopathological changes induced by combined exposure to noise and toluene in New Zealand White rabbits. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2022; 73:31-42. [PMID: 35390242 PMCID: PMC8999586 DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2022-73-3602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Noise and toluene can have significant adverse effects on different systems in the human body, but little is known about their combination. The aim of this study was to see how their combined action reflects on serum levels of inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), body weight, and pathological changes in the heart, lung, stomach, and spleen tissues. To do that we exposed New Zealand rabbits to 1000 mg/L toluene and 100 dB of white noise in a chamber specifically designed for the purpose over two consecutive weeks. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas Bax and Bcl-2 expressions in tissues were determined with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Noise and toluene changed TNF-α and IL-1β serum levels on different days following the end of exposure and significantly increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the lung and spleen. In addition, they induced different pathological changes in the heart, lung, spleen, and stomach tissues. This study has confirmed that exposure to noise and toluene can induce a range of toxicopathological changes, probably by inducing inflammatory pathways and apoptosis, but their combined effects look weaker than those of its components, although histopathological findings suggest the opposite.
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Effects of Outer Edge Bending on the Aerodynamic and Noise Characters of Axial Fan for Air Conditioners. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10040686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Outer edge bending is already used on the axial fan blades of air conditioners, reducing the leakage flow loss at the blade tip and suppressing the tip vortex development, thereby improving fan aerodynamic and acoustic performance. However, there are few studies on the multi-parameter design and optimization of this complicated structure, and most studies only focus on the overall sound pressure level rather than the sound quality when evaluating the fan noise. This study investigated the effects of outer edge bending structure on the aerodynamic performance and sound quality of air conditioners’ axial fans by experiments and numerical methods. Based on the orthogonal design method, the effects of three bending parameters, the circumferential starting angle, radial relative position, and the bending degree effects on the performance of the axial flow fan blade were analyzed, and the best efficiency scheme was selected. A comparative analysis of the preferred and the original bending schemes shows that the bending towards the blade suction surface successfully inhibits the development of tip leakage vortex at the blade tip, thereby achieving efficiency enhancement and noise reduction. The experimental results show that the preferred bending scheme with a 10° circumferential starting angle, 90% radial relative position, and 8% bending degree can effectively reduce the fan’s broadband noise within 200~1000 Hz by 0.54~2.68 dB (A) at different operating conditions. Additionally, the preferred bending blade with reasonably designed bending effectively reduced the loudness and roughness of the fan noise in the rated conditions, and the sound quality of the studied fan was correspondingly improved.
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Wang Y, Huang X, Zhang J, Huang S, Wang J, Feng Y, Jiang Z, Wang H, Yin S. Bottom-Up and Top-Down Attention Impairment Induced by Long-Term Exposure to Noise in the Absence of Threshold Shifts. Front Neurol 2022; 13:836683. [PMID: 35299612 PMCID: PMC8920971 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.836683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective We aimed to assess the effect of noise exposure on bottom-up and top-down attention functions in industrial workers based on behavioral and brain responses recorded by the multichannel electroencephalogram (EEG). Method In this cross-sectional study, 563 shipyard noise-exposed workers with clinical normal hearing were recruited for cognitive testing. Personal cumulative noise exposure (CNE) was calculated with the long-term equivalent noise level and employment duration. The performance of cognitive tests was compared between the high CNE group (H-CNE, >92.2) and the low CNE group; additionally, brain responses were recorded with a 256-channel EEG from a subgroup of 20 noise-exposed (NG) workers, who were selected from the cohort with a pure tone threshold <25 dB HL from 0.25 to 16 kHz and 20 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and education. P300 and mismatch negativity (MMN) evoked by auditory stimuli were obtained to evaluate the top-down and bottom-up attention functions. The sources of P300 and MMN were investigated using GeoSource. Results The total score of the cognitive test (24.55 ± 3.71 vs. 25.32 ± 2.62, p < 0.01) and the subscale of attention score (5.43 ± 1.02 vs. 5.62 ± 0.67, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the H-CNE group than in the L-CNE group. The attention score has the fastest decline of all the cognitive domain dimensions (slope = -0.03 in individuals under 40 years old, p < 0.001; slope = -0.06 in individuals older than 40 years old, p < 0.001). When NG was compared with controls, the P300 amplitude was significantly decreased in NG at Cz (3.9 ± 2.1 vs. 6.7 ± 2.3 μV, p < 0.001). In addition, the latency of P300 (390.7 ± 12.1 vs. 369.4 ± 7.5 ms, p < 0.001) and MMN (172.8 ± 15.5 vs. 157.8 ± 10.5 ms, p < 0.01) was significantly prolonged in NG compared with controls. The source for MMN for controls was in the left BA11, whereas the noise exposure group's source was lateralized to the BA20. Conclusion Long-term exposure to noise deteriorated the bottom-up and top-down attention functions even in the absence of threshold shifts, as evidenced by behavioral and brain responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiajia Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai, China
| | - Shujian Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiping Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanmei Feng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuang Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai, China
| | - Shankai Yin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai, China
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Staab J, Schady A, Weigand M, Lakes T, Taubenböck H. Predicting traffic noise using land-use regression-a scalable approach. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 32:232-243. [PMID: 34215843 PMCID: PMC8920888 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00355-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In modern societies, noise is ubiquitous. It is an annoyance and can have a negative impact on human health as well as on the environment. Despite increasing evidence of its negative impacts, spatial knowledge about noise distribution remains limited. Up to now, noise mapping is frequently inhibited by the necessary resources and therefore limited to selected areas. OBJECTIVE Based on the assumption, that prevalent noise is determined by the arrangement of sources and the surrounding environment in which the sound propagates, we build a geostatistical model representing these parameters. Aiming for a large-scale noise mapping approach, we utilize publicly available data, context-aware feature engineering and a linear land-use regression (LUR) model. METHODS Compliant to the European Noise Directive 2002/49/EG, we work at a high spatial granularity of 10 × 10-m resolution. As reference, we use the day-evening-night noise level indicator Lden. Therewith, we carry out 2000 virtual field campaigns simulating different sampling schemes and introduce spatial cross-validation concepts to test the transferability to new areas. RESULTS The experimental results suggest the necessity for more than 500 samples stratified over the different noise levels to produce a representative model. Eventually, using 21 selected variables, our model was able to explain large proportions of the yearly averaged road noise (Lden) variability (R2 = 0.702) with a mean absolute error of 4.24 dB(A), 3.84 dB(A) for build-up areas, respectively. In applying this best performing model for an area-wide prediction, we spatially close the blank spots in existing noise maps with continuous noise levels for the entire range from 24 to 106 dB(A). SIGNIFICANCE This data is new, particular for small communities that have not been mapped sufficiently in Europe so far. In conjunction, our findings also supplement conventionally sampled studies using physical microphones and spatially blocked cross-validations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Staab
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD), Weßling, Germany.
- Geography Department, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Arthur Schady
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IPA), Weßling, Germany
| | - Matthias Weigand
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD), Weßling, Germany
- Department of Remote Sensing, Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobia Lakes
- Geography Department, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys), Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannes Taubenböck
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD), Weßling, Germany
- Department of Remote Sensing, Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Exploring Strategies for Improving Green Open Spaces in Old Downtown Residential Communities from the Perspective of Public Health to Enhance the Health and Well-Being of the Aged. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING 2022; 2021:5547749. [PMID: 35126893 PMCID: PMC8814349 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5547749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Based on the trend of global aging, people are paying more and more attention to the health of the elderly and the improvement of green open spaces. However, few studies have focused on strategies to improve green spaces in response to this trend. Especially, with the outbreak of COVID-19, an urgent need to develop a sustainable system strategy to improve the health of the elderly in residential communities in old districts has emerged. Traditional improvement strategies based on current situation evaluation often focus on the most prominent practical problems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to provide theoretical research and practical improvement strategies for green open spaces in old downtown residential communities to improve the health and well-being of the elderly. In response to this problem, this research proposes an alternative method based on causality (FDM-DANP-mV model), by extracting 23 green open space elements that affect the health of the elderly and dividing them into three dimensions, to form a preliminary evaluation framework. On this basis, the more effective and feasible standard elements are screened out, and the influence relationship behind the elements is clarified. Then, the sustainable development strategy is systematically discussed in three practical cases. This allows for the analysis of the present situation to not only identify the current significant problems but also to capture the source of the influence behind the real problems based on the clarification of the dominant influence relationship. The actual value of this study is to provide a key design decision basis for the improvement of the green open spaces in old downtown residential communities, aiming at avoiding waste to the greatest extent under the premise of limited resources and gradually promoting the improvement of the urban built environment to promote the health and well-being of the elderly.
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Zhang D, Kong C, Zhang M, Kang J. Religious Belief-Related Factors Enhance the Impact of Soundscapes in Han Chinese Buddhist Temples on Mental Health. Front Psychol 2022; 12:774689. [PMID: 35153901 PMCID: PMC8825353 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.774689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In contemporary society, mental health issues have received increasing attention. Moreover, how people perceive the acoustic environment affects mental health. In religious places, the unique religious soundscape, composed of the acoustic environment and sounds, has an obvious effect on mental health. In China, Han Chinese Buddhism has a long history and is currently the religion with the largest number of believers. The soundscape of temples has always been an important component of creating a Buddhist atmosphere. For this study, questionnaires were distributed to believers and tourists inside and outside several well-known Han Chinese Buddhist temples in China to analyse the relationship between evaluations of temple soundscapes (including the overall acoustic environment and preferences for typical sounds) and mental health and the role of religious belief-related factors in this relationship. The results indicated that for the respondents, the overall acoustic environment of Buddhist temples was significantly correlated with mental health and that a preference for three sounds in Buddhist temples, i.e., bells, wind chimes and chanting sounds, was significantly correlated with mental health. Among religious belief-related factors, attitudes toward Buddhist thought, frequency of temple visitation and purpose for visiting temples can affect the correlation between personal evaluations of temple soundscapes and mental health. For people who partially believe in Buddhist thought, people who visit Buddhist temples twice or less per year, or people who visit temples for tourism purposes, the correlations between evaluations of the overall acoustic environment and mental health are higher than for people without these religious characteristics. For people who fully believe in Buddhist thought or who visit temples neither to worship Buddha nor for tourism purposes, the correlations between the preferences for bells and wind chimes and mental health are higher than for people without these religious characteristics. For people who partially believe in Buddhist thought, the correlation between the preference for chanting and mental health is higher than for people with other attitudes toward Buddhist thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxu Zhang
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunxiao Kong
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- School of East Asian Studies, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Jian Kang
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Essers E, Pérez-Crespo L, Foraster M, Ambrós A, Tiemeier H, Guxens M. Environmental noise exposure and emotional, aggressive, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related symptoms in children from two European birth cohorts. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106946. [PMID: 34715431 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental noise exposure is increasing but limited research has been done on the association with emotional, aggressive, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms in children. OBJECTIVE To analyze the association between prenatal and childhood environmental noise exposure and emotional, aggressive, and ADHD-related symptoms in children from two European birth cohorts. METHODS We included 534 children from the Spanish INMA-Sabadell Project and 7424 from the Dutch Generation R Study. Average 24 h noise exposure at the participants' home address during pregnancy and childhood periods were estimated using EU maps from road traffic noise and total noise (road, aircraft, railway, and industry). Symptom outcomes were assessed using validated questionnaires: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Child Behavioral Checklist, ADHD Criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition List, and Conner's Parent Rating Scale-Revised at 4, 7 and 9 years (INMA-Sabadell cohort) and 18 months, 3, 5, and 9 years (Generation R Study). Adjusted linear mixed models of prenatal and repeated childhood noise exposure with repeated symptom outcomes were run separately by cohort and overall estimates were combined with random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS Average prenatal and childhood road traffic noise exposure levels were 61.3 (SD 6.1) and 61.7 (SD 5.8) for INMA-Sabadell and 54.6 (SD 7.9) and 51.6 (SD 7.1) for Generation R, respectively. Prenatal and childhood road traffic noise exposure were not associated with emotional, aggressive, or ADHD-related symptoms. No heterogeneity was observed between cohorts and results were comparable for total noise exposure. CONCLUSIONS No association was observed between prenatal or childhood road traffic or total noise exposure and symptom outcomes in children. Future studies should include a more comprehensive noise exposure assessment considering noise sensitivity and noise exposure at different settings such as work for pregnant women and school for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmée Essers
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Laura Pérez-Crespo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Maria Foraster
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Lull (URL), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Albert Ambrós
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA.
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Baffoe PE, Duker AA, Senkyire-Kwarteng EV. Assessment of health impacts of noise pollution in the Tarkwa Mining Community of Ghana using noise mapping techniques. GLOBAL HEALTH JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.glohj.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Grenzebach J, Romanus E. Quantifying the Effect of Noise on Cognitive Processes: A Review of Psychophysiological Correlates of Workload. Noise Health 2022; 24:199-214. [PMID: 36537445 PMCID: PMC10088430 DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_34_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Noise is present in most work environments, including emissions from machines and devices, irrelevant speech from colleagues, and traffic noise. Although it is generally accepted that noise below the permissible exposure limits does not pose a considerable risk for auditory effects like hearing impairments. Yet, noise can have a direct adverse effect on cognitive performance (non-auditory effects like workload or stress). Under certain circumstances, the observable performance for a task carried out in silence compared to noisy surroundings may not differ. One possible explanation for this phenomenon needs further investigation: individuals may invest additional cognitive resources to overcome the distraction from irrelevant auditory stimulation. Recent developments in measurements of psychophysiological correlates and analysis methods of load-related parameters can shed light on this complex interaction. These objective measurements complement subjective self-report of perceived effort by quantifying unnoticed noise-related cognitive workload. In this review, literature databases were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles that deal with an at least partially irrelevant "auditory stimulation" during an ongoing "cognitive task" that is accompanied by "psychophysiological correlates" to quantify the "momentary workload." The spectrum of assessed types of "auditory stimulations" extended from speech stimuli (varying intelligibility), oddball sounds (repeating short tone sequences), and auditory stressors (white noise, task-irrelevant real-life sounds). The type of "auditory stimulation" was related (speech stimuli) or unrelated (oddball, auditory stressor) to the type of primary "cognitive task." The types of "cognitive tasks" include speech-related tasks, fundamental psychological assessment tasks, and real-world/simulated tasks. The "psychophysiological correlates" include pupillometry and eye-tracking, recordings of brain activity (hemodynamic, potentials), cardiovascular markers, skin conductance, endocrinological markers, and behavioral markers. The prevention of negative effects on health by unexpected stressful soundscapes during mental work starts with the continuous estimation of cognitive workload triggered by auditory noise. This review gives a comprehensive overview of methods that were tested for their sensitivity as markers of workload in various auditory settings during cognitive processing.
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