Road traffic noise, noise sensitivity, noise annoyance, psychological and physical health and mortality

Does Willingness to Pay Differ for Mental and Physical Health?

OBJECTIVES

The urban environment can have a significant impact on mental and physical health. Health impact appraisal of new developments should address these issues. However, transferable economic valuation evidence for urban planners in the United Kingdom is thin, especially around mental health, making it harder to estimate the cost-efficiency of public health interventions to address these conditions. A further complication is that mental health may be perceived differently from physical health. This study examines willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid depression and lower back pain.

METHODS

WTP estimates were obtained by applying contingent valuation tasks in an online survey with a representative sample in the United Kingdom (N = 1553). Interval regression models were used to estimate the effects of disease severity, payment frequency, and respondent characteristics on WTP.

RESULTS

Respondents' WTP to avoid both conditions was relatively high (around 5%-6% of stated income to return to current health state). Depression was rated as being twice as burdensome on quality of life than pain, and bids to avoid depression were 20% to 30% more than pain. Analysis of motivation responses suggests mental health treatment is perceived as less easy to access and less effective than the equivalent for pain, and respondents expect a larger burden on their family and relationships as they try to manage their condition themselves.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that depression bids may be affected by uncertainty around access to effective treatment in the healthcare system. This has implications for how mental illness may be prioritized in resource allocation toward public health interventions.

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

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

The architecture of functional brain network modulated by driving under train running noise exposure

A noisy environment can considerably impact drivers' attention and fatigue, endangering driving safety. Consequently, this study designed a simulated driving experimental scenario to analyse the effects of noise generated during urban rail transit train operation on drivers' functional brain networks. The experiment recruited 16 participants, and the simulated driving scenario was conducted at noise levels of 50, 60, 70, and 80 dB. Functional connectivity between all electrode pairs across various frequency bands was evaluated using the weighted phase lag index (WPLI), and a brain network based on this was constructed. Graph theoretic analysis employed network global efficiency, degree, and clustering coefficient as metrics. Significant increases in the WPLI values of theta and alpha frequency bands were observed in high noise environments (70 dB, 80 dB), as well as enhanced brain synchronisation. Furthermore, concerning the topological metrics of brain networks, it was observed that the global efficiency of brain networks in theta and alpha frequency ranges, as well as the node degree and clustering coefficients, experienced substantial growth in high noise environments (70 dB, 80 dB) as opposed to 50 dB and 60 dB. This finding indicates that high-noise environments impact the reorganisation of functional brain networks, leading to a preference for network structures with improved global efficiency. Such findings may improve our understanding of the neural mechanisms of driving under noise exposure, and thus potentially reduce road accidents to some extent.

Road traffic noise exposure and its impact on health: evidence from animal and human studies-chronic stress, inflammation, and oxidative stress as key components of the complex downstream pathway underlying noise-induced non-auditory health effects

In heavily urbanized world saturated with environmental pollutants, road traffic noise stands out as a significant factor contributing to widespread public health issues. It contributes in the development of a diverse range of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic dysregulation, cognitive impairment, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although the exact mechanisms behind these non-auditory health effects remain unclear, the noise reaction model centres on the stress response to noise. When exposed to noise, the body activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system, leading to the secretion of stress hormones like catecholamines and cortisol. Prolonged exposure to noise-induced stress results in chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. This review underscores the role of inflammation and oxidative stress in the progression of noise-induced vascular dysfunction, disruption of the circadian rhythm, accelerated aging, neuroinflammation, and changes in microbiome. Additionally, our focus is on understanding the interconnected nature of these health outcomes: These interconnected factors create a cascade effect, contributing to the accumulation of multiple risk factors that ultimately lead to severe adverse health effects.

Recent Advances in Preparation and Structure of Polyurethane Porous Materials for Sound Absorbing Application

Various acoustic materials are developed to resolve noise pollution problem in many industries. Especially, materials with porous structure are broadly used to absorb sound energy in civil construction and transportation area. Polyurethane (PU) porous materials possess excellent damping properties, good toughness, and well-developed pore structures, which have a broad application prospect in sound absorption field. This work aims to summarize the recent progress of fabrication and structure for PU porous materials in sound absorption application. The sound absorption mechanisms of porous materials are introduced. Different kinds of structure for typical PU porous materials in sound absorption application are covered and highlighted, which include PU foam, modified PU porous materials, aerogel, templated PU, and special PU porous materials. Finally, the development direction and existing problems of PU material in sound absorption application are briefly prospected. It can be expected that porous PU with high sound absorption coefficient can be obtained by using some facile methods. The design and accurate regulation of porous structures or construction of multilayer sound absorption structure is favorably recommended to fulfill the high demand of industrial and commercial applications in the future work.

Depressive symptoms of people living in areas with high exposure to environmental noise: a multilevel analysis

Exposure and damage caused by noise have been reported in many countries around the world. However, few nationwide studies explored the association of residential environmental noise with depressive symptoms, this study aims to examine this association. The Korean Community Health Survey at the individual-level and the Korean Environmental Noise Measurement Database at the regional-level were used. A total of 30,630 individuals were eligible for the analysis. Multilevel model framework was applied to account for the clustered structure of the regional-level data in which individual-level data containing demographic characteristics and health information were nested. As a result of the analysis, Individuals living in the highest environmental noise area had a 1.55 times higher likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms than those living in the lowest environmental noise area (95% CI, 1.04-2.31). After stratified analysis according to depressive symptom severity, individuals residing in areas with the highest environmental noise exposure had significantly higher odds of mild (aOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02-2.07) and moderate symptoms (aOR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.00-2.91). In conclusion, the higher the residential environmental noise, the higher the possibility of mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest the need for continued attention to and management of noise pollution, which has the potential to adversely affect individual's mental health.

Effects of 90 dB pure tone exposure on auditory and cardio-cerebral system functions in macaque monkeys

Excessive noise exposure presents significant health risks to humans, affecting not just the auditory system but also the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. This study focused on three male macaque monkeys as subjects. 90 dB sound pressure level (SPL) pure tone exposure (frequency: 500Hz, repetition rate: 40Hz, 1 min per day, continuously exposed for 5 days) was administered. Assessments were performed before exposure, during exposure, immediately after exposure, and at 7-, 14-, and 28-days post-exposure, employing auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests, electrocardiograms (ECG), and electroencephalograms (EEG). The study found that the average threshold for the Ⅴ wave in the right ear increased by around 30 dB SPL right after exposure (P < 0.01) compared to pre-exposure. This elevation returned to normal within 7 days. The ECG results indicated that one of the macaque monkeys exhibited an RS-type QRS wave, and inverted T waves from immediately after exposure to 14 days, which normalized at 28 days. The other two monkeys showed no significant changes in their ECG parameters. Changes in EEG parameters demonstrated that main brain regions exhibited significant activation at 40Hz during noise exposure. After noise exposure, the power spectral density (PSD) in main brain regions, particularly those represented by the temporal lobe, exhibited a decreasing trend across all frequency bands, with no clear recovery over time. In summary, exposure to 90 dB SPL noise results in impaired auditory systems, aberrant brain functionality, and abnormal electrocardiographic indicators, albeit with individual variations. It has implications for establishing noise protection standards, although the precise mechanisms require further exploration by integrating pathological and behavioral indicators.

Transportation Noise Pollution and Cardiovascular Health

Epidemiological studies have found that transportation noise increases the risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with solid evidence for ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. According to the World Health Organization, at least 1.6 million healthy life years are lost annually from traffic-related noise in Western Europe. Traffic noise at night causes fragmentation and shortening of sleep, elevation of stress hormone levels, and increased oxidative stress in the vasculature and the brain. These factors can promote vascular (endothelial) dysfunction, inflammation, and arterial hypertension, thus elevating cardiovascular risk. The present review focusses on the indirect, nonauditory cardiovascular health effects of noise. We provide an updated overview of epidemiological research on the effects of transportation noise on cardiovascular risk factors and disease, and mechanistic insights based on the latest clinical and experimental studies and propose new risk markers to address noise-induced cardiovascular effects in the general population. We will discuss the potential effects of noise on vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation in humans and animals. We will elaborately explain the underlying pathomechanisms by alterations of gene networks, epigenetic pathways, circadian rhythm, signal transduction along the neuronal-cardiovascular axis, and metabolism. We will describe current and future noise mitigation strategies. Finally, we will conduct an overall evaluation of the status of the current evidence of noise as a significant cardiovascular risk factor.

Noise Sensitivity in Cataract Patients: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Noise sensitivity results from a series of variables and processes, and it can be used to predict the annoyance caused by noise and health-related outcomes. This study aimed to compare the noise sensitivity between cataract patients and healthy subjects and explore the effect of high noise sensitivity on cataract patients.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 100 cataract patients and 78 healthy subjects who underwent physical examination in Jiaozhou Central Hospital of Qingdao from February 2020 to February 2023. Noise sensitivity was evaluated by adopting the 8-Item Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale (WNSS-8). Comparisons were conducted on the psychological state scores, blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) of the high- (HG) and low-noise-sensitivity (LG) groups.

RESULTS

Cataract patients exhibited lower visual acuity (P < 0.001) and higher WNSS-8 scores than the healthy subjects (P < 0.05). On the basis of the median of WNSS-8, the cataract patients were divided into HG (n = 42) and LG (n = 58). Compared with the LG, the HG presented higher Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scores, Beck Depression Inventory scores, systolic BP, diastolic BP and HR (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

High noise sensitivity in cataract patients may be associated with vision disorders, and it may affect their BP and HR and damage physical and mental health.

Crowdsourced cycling data applications to estimate noise pollution exposure during urban cycling

This research demonstrates a methodology to integrate freely available datasets to understand the relationship between road traffic noise and cycling experiences in a medium sized city. An illustrative example of the methodology was drawn from data for Dublin, Ireland. We aggregate local environmental data with 81,403 Strava cycle trips, contextualised by feedback from 335 cyclists to estimate exposure levels and infer impacts on experiences and behaviours. Results demonstrate that cyclists recognise that they are subjected to increased noise levels and experience negative psychophysical consequences as a result, but they tend to downplay the impact of noise as merely a minor annoyance. Noise also impacts behaviour, most noticeably through temporal and spatial detours. Geospatial mapping was used to visualise the relationship between noise pollution and cycling activity. Estimating traffic noise levels across two cycle routes, direct vs popular detour, revealed a +10 dB(A) increase in exposure for a saving of approximately 4 min on the direct route compared to the detour. Spatial inequities in exposure levels may have serious health consequences for cyclists in a city such as Dublin. The methodology is demonstrated as suitable for policy level interventions and planning purposes.

Acoustic characteristics of bedrooms in two types of long-term care facilities in China

The aim of this study was to quantitatively determine the acoustic characteristics of bedrooms in two types of long-term care facilities in China. Objective acoustic conditions, including noise levels and reverberation times, were measured through a series of acoustic measurements in twelve bedrooms in two nursing homes and three adult care homes in Kunming city, China. The impacts of noise and sound preferences were evaluated through a questionnaire survey administered to residents and nursing staff. In terms of the sound field, the background noise levels in most measured bedrooms exceeded the WHO's recommended value (30 dBA) by approximately 10-15 dBA. Compared to those in adult care homes, the noise levels in nursing homes were approximately 5-7 dBA higher during the daytime and 2-3 dBA higher during the nighttime due to frequent nursing activities. Moreover, noise levels were 5-15 dBA higher in roadside bedrooms. The reverberation time of five bedrooms reached 0.8 s at low frequency (125 Hz) due to their large space and absence of sound-absorbing materials. The questionnaire showed that noise sources were mainly perceived as coming from corridors and out-of-windows by residents and nursing staff. Traffic noise, residents' yelling in pain (just in nursing homes) and footsteps were considered the most noticeable noises, which may have had negative effects on participants' sleep quality, health, and emotional state. Moreover, the residents in roadside bedrooms reported that noise had a greater impact on their sleep (p < 0.01). Compared to artificial and mechanical sounds, participants preferred nature sounds, such as streams and birds, which were significantly (p < 0.01) positively correlated with age.

Green and blue space exposure and non-communicable disease related hospitalizations: A systematic review

The global increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) presents a critical public health concern. Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to natural environments may reduce the risk of developing NCDs through multiple pathways. The present systematic review aims to synthesize and evaluate the observational evidence regarding associations between exposure to green and blue spaces and hospital admissions related to NCDs. A comprehensive literature search strategy was conducted in Embase (Ovid), PubMed, and Web of Science. The risk of bias and quality of the evidence were assessed using The Navigation Guide methodology, an approach specifically designed for environmental health research. Of 3060 search results, 17 articles were included. Notably, the majority of the studies (n = 14; 82.4%) were published from 2020 onwards. Most studies were conducted in the United States (n = 6; 35.3%) and China (n = 4; 23.5%). Exposure to green spaces was assessed through all studies, while only three included blue spaces. In terms of study design, cohort design was employed in nearly half of the studies (n = 8; 47.1%), followed by case-crossover design (n = 3, 17.6%). Over 75% of the included studies (n = 13) had a high or probably high rating in the risk of bias assessment. The studies encompassed diverse NCD outcome domains; cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) (n = 10), respiratory diseases (RSDs) (n = 2), heat-related diseases (n = 1), metabolic diseases (n = 2), cancer (n = 1), neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) (n = 2), and mental health disorders (n = 2). The present review suggests that a clear link between blue space exposure and NCD hospital admissions is not evident. However, exposure to green spaces appears to predominantly have a protective effect, although the direction of the association varies across different outcome domains. The heterogeneity among the outcome domains together with the limited number of studies, emphasizes the need for more robust evidence.

Long-term noise exposures and cardiovascular diseases mortality: A study in 5 U.S. states

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have linked noise exposure with adverse cardiovascular events. However, evidence remains inconsistent, and most previous studies only focused on traffic noise, excluding other anthropogenic sources like constructions, industrial process and commercial activities. Additionally, few studies have been conducted in the U.S. or evaluated the non-linear exposure-response relationships.

METHODS

We conducted a relative incidence analysis study using all cardiovascular diseases mortality as cases (n = 936,019) and external causes mortality (n = 232,491) as contrast outcomes. Mortality records geocoded at residential addresses were obtained from five U.S. states (Indiana, 2007; Kansas, 2007-2009, Missouri, 2010-2019, Ohio, 2007-2013, Texas, 2007-2016). Time-invariant long-term noise exposure was obtained from a validated model developed based on acoustical measurements across 2000-2014. Noises from both natural sources (natural activities, including animals, insects, winds, water flows, thunder, etc.) and anthropogenic sources (human activities, including transportation, industrial activities, community facilities & infrastructures, commercial activities, entertainments, etc.) were included. We used daytime and nighttime total anthropogenic noise & day-night average sound pressure level combining natural and anthropogenic sources as exposures. Logistic regression models were fit controlling for Census tract-level & individual-level characteristics. We examined potential modification by sex by interaction terms and potential non-linear associations by thin plate spline terms.

RESULTS

We observed positive associations for daytime anthropogenic L50 (sound level exceeded 50% of time) noise (10-dBA OR = 1.047, 95%CI 1.025-1.069), nighttime anthropogenic L50 noise (10-dBA OR = 1.061, 95%CI 1.033-1.091) in a two-exposure-term model, and overall Ldn (day-night average) sound pressure level (10-dBA OR = 1.064, 95%CI 1.040-1.089) in single-exposure-term model. Females were more susceptible to all three exposures. All exposures showed monotonic positive associations with cardiovascular mortality up to certain thresholds around 45-55 dBA, with a generally flattened or decreasing trend beyond those thresholds.

CONCLUSIONS

Both daytime anthropogenic and nighttime anthropogenic noises were associated with cardiovascular disease mortality, and associations were stronger in females.

Urban noise assessment in hospitals: measurements and mapping in the context of the city of Sorocaba, Brazil

Noise pollution has become a public health problem in several countries worldwide. Noise maps are tools used in many cities, mainly on the European continent. In other regions, they are used in smaller areas, and few studies focus on hospital areas, considered noise-sensitive zones. In this context, this study aimed to perform sound measurements and noise maps for the day and night periods in the surroundings of three hospitals in Sorocaba, Brazil. Sound measurements occurred around the three hospitals based on NBR 10151 and ISO 1996 standards. The noise maps were drawn up using a calculation model based on ISO 9613-2. Results showed that the sound measurement points around the hospitals had levels above those recommended by the Brazilian standard for sensitive areas (LAeq 50 and 45 dB for day and night, respectively). The acoustic maps showed high sound levels on all faces of the hospital buildings, both during the day and at night. The worst scenario concerned the vicinity of the roads with the highest flow and speed of vehicles. We concluded that three different hospitals in the city have high sound levels in their surroundings above the recommended for sensitive areas.

Health position paper and redox perspectives - Disease burden by transportation noise

Transportation noise is a ubiquitous urban exposure. In 2018, the World Health Organization concluded that chronic exposure to road traffic noise is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. In contrast, they concluded that the quality of evidence for a link to other diseases was very low to moderate. Since then, several studies on the impact of noise on various diseases have been published. Also, studies investigating the mechanistic pathways underlying noise-induced health effects are emerging. We review the current evidence regarding effects of noise on health and the related disease-mechanisms. Several high-quality cohort studies consistently found road traffic noise to be associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that road traffic and railway noise may increase the risk of diseases not commonly investigated in an environmental noise context, including breast cancer, dementia, and tinnitus. The harmful effects of noise are related to activation of a physiological stress response and nighttime sleep disturbance. Oxidative stress and inflammation downstream of stress hormone signaling and dysregulated circadian rhythms are identified as major disease-relevant pathomechanistic drivers. We discuss the role of reactive oxygen species and present results from antioxidant interventions. Lastly, we provide an overview of oxidative stress markers and adverse redox processes reported for noise-exposed animals and humans. This position paper summarizes all available epidemiological, clinical, and preclinical evidence of transportation noise as an important environmental risk factor for public health and discusses its implications on the population level.

Noise and mental health: evidence, mechanisms, and consequences

The recognition of noise exposure as a prominent environmental determinant of public health has grown substantially. While recent years have yielded a wealth of evidence linking environmental noise exposure primarily to cardiovascular ailments, our understanding of the detrimental effects of noise on the brain and mental health outcomes remains limited. Despite being a nascent research area, an increasing body of compelling research and conclusive findings confirms that exposure to noise, particularly from sources such as traffic, can potentially impact the central nervous system. These harms of noise increase the susceptibility to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, suicide, and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. From a mechanistic perspective, several investigations propose direct adverse phenotypic changes in brain tissue by noise (e.g. neuroinflammation, cerebral oxidative stress), in addition to feedback signaling by remote organ damage, dysregulated immune cells, and impaired circadian rhythms, which may collectively contribute to noise-dependent impairment of mental health. This concise review linking noise exposure to mental health outcomes seeks to fill research gaps by assessing current findings from studies involving both humans and animals.

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Psychological Health and Influencing Factors Among 2628 Asymptomatic and Mild COVID-19 Patients in Fangcang Shelter Hospital

Purpose

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a global public health concern. Many people have been forced to change their lifestyles, which has led to psychological and sleep problem. This study aims to investigate the psychological health problems and factors among patients in the Fangcang Shelter Hospital (FSH) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients and Methods

A Cross-Sectional survey was conducted to investigate the sleep, anxiety, depression and stress disorders of 2628 asymptomatic and mild patients treated in FSH of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, from 30 October to 6 December 2022, by scanning a WeChat two-dimensional code. Sociodemographic data and influencing factors in FSH were collected, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were administered. Descriptive statistics, t-tests or analysis of variance, Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis, and multivariate regression analysis were used to explore the relationships between different variables and their impact on psychological health indicators.

Results

The proportions of patients with insomnia, depressive disorder, anxiety, and stress disorders were 33.49%, 35.80%, 31.74%, and 43.57%, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that factors such as gender, higher education level, positive nucleic acid test results, longer illness duration, underlying diseases, and extended electronic device use were associated with elevated psychological distress scores. Notably, within FSH, extended exposure to light, a noisy environment, and sleep schedule management significantly impacted the prevalence of insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress disorders (p<0.01). Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis identified higher education level, light exposure, noisy environment, sleep management, and electronic device usage as the primary risk factors for psychological distress.

Conclusion

Patients in FSH face psychological distress influenced by sociodemographic factors, environment, and lifestyle, highlighting the need for integrated psychological support in healthcare, particularly in temporary medical facilities during crises.

Modern health worries and annoyance from environmental factors are largely unrelated to smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity

OBJECTIVE

Modern health worries, as well as environmental annoyance from chemical agents, noise, and electromagnetic exposure are associated with symptom reporting and marked affective-behavioural changes. As promotion and protection of health is a primary characteristic of these conditions, it can be expected that they will be related to less risk behaviour (smoking and alcohol consumption) and more health behaviour (physical activity), both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

METHODS

Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 2336 individuals participating in T1 and T2 data collection (3 years apart) of the Västerbotten Environmental Health Study, Sweden. Health-related behaviours were assessed using single self-report questions. Smoking was measured on a binary (yes-or-no) scale; frequency of alcohol consumption and physical activity was measured on a 5-point and a 4-point scale, respectively.

RESULTS

Modern health worries showed no cross-sectional association with the three behaviours, whereas annoyance was typically inversely, very weakly, related to smoking and alcohol consumption. Physical activity was significantly positively associated only with chemical annoyance. None of the variables significantly predicted change of behaviours at T2 after controlling for the respective T1 value and demographic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with high levels of modern health worries and annoyance from various environmental agents are not clearly characterized by a healthier lifestyle. Perhaps they focus on the alleviation of their existing symptoms; alternatively, somatic symptom distress decreases their cognitive-affective resources necessary for a long-term life style change.

Perceived Occupational Noise Exposure and Depression in Young Finnish Adults

We investigated the association between perceived occupational noise exposure and depressive symptoms in young Finnish adults and whether noise sensitivity moderates this association. This study was based on an ongoing longitudinal twin study. We included those who had been working daily (n = 521) or weekly (n = 245) during the past 12 months (mean age 22.4, SD 0.7, 53% female). We asked about occupational noise exposure at age 22 and assessed depressive symptoms using the General Behavior Inventory (GBI) at age 17 and 22. Noise sensitivity and covariates were used in linear regression models. Perceived daily occupational noise exposure was associated, as a statistically independent main effect with depressive symptoms at age 22 (beta 1.19; 95% CI 0.09, 2.29) among all, and separately for females (beta 2.22; 95% CI 0.34, 4.09) but not males (beta 0.22; 95% CI -1.08, 1.52). Noise sensitivity was independently associated with depressive symptoms among all (beta 1.35; 95% CI 0.54, 2.17), and separately for males (beta 1.96; 95% CI 0.68, 3.24) but not females (beta 1.05; 95 % CI -0.04, 2.13). Noise sensitivity was independent of perceived occupational noise exposure. Pre-existing depressive symptoms at age 17 were predictive of perceived occupational noise exposure, suggesting complex interactions of noise and depression.

Suicide and Transportation Noise: A Prospective Cohort Study from Switzerland

BACKGROUND

Although plausible from a pathophysiological point of view, robust evidence for effects of transportation noise on mental health remains scarce. Meanwhile, psychiatric diseases are among the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases worldwide, and suicide as a mortality outcome highly connected to mental disorders presents a pressing public health issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between source-specific transportation noise, particulate matter (PM) air pollution, residential greenness, and suicide by means of a nationwide cohort study.

METHODS

Road traffic, railway and aircraft noise exposure as well as exposure to air pollution [PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5μm (PM2.5)] and greenness [normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)] were linked to 5.1 million adults (age 15 y and older) in the Swiss National Cohort, accounting for their address history. Mean noise exposure in 5-y periods was calculated. Individuals were followed for up to 15 y (2001-2015). Time-varying Cox regression models were applied to deaths by suicide (excluding assisted suicide). Models included all three noise sources, PM2.5, and NDVI plus individual and spatial covariates, including socioeconomic status. Effect modification by sex, age, socioeconomic indicators, and degree of urbanization was explored.

RESULTS

During the follow-up, there were 11,265 suicide deaths (10.4% poisoning, 33.3% hanging, 28.7% firearms, 14.7% falls). Road traffic and railway noise were associated with total suicides [hazard ratios: 1.040; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.015, 1.065; and 1.022 (95% CI: 1.004, 1.041) per 10 dB day-evening-night level (Lden)], whereas for aircraft noise, a risk increase starting from 50 dB was masked by an inverse association in the very low exposure range (30-40 dB). Associations were stronger for females than males. The results were robust to adjustment for residential greenness and air pollution.

CONCLUSION

In this longitudinal, nationwide cohort study, we report a robust association between exposure to road traffic and railway noise and risk of death by suicide after adjusting for exposure to air pollution and greenness. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that mental health disorders may be related to chronic transportation noise exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11587.

The association between road traffic noise and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

The association between road traffic noise and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) was inconsistent. To address this, we have synthesized available cohort studies about their association by meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Scopus databases were searched up to July 2022. The Quality-effect model (QE) was used to incorporate the results of included studies. The possibility of publication bias was assessed by the Doi plots and Luis Furuya-Kanamori index. Sensitivity analyses included leave-one-out meta-analysis, subgroup meta-analysis, and meta-regressions. The Recommendations for Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines were conducted to evaluate the overall quality of evidence. Eight cohort studies with 4,989,846 participants and 416,799 diabetes cases were included. Based on the fully adjusted models from 8 cohort studies (10 estimates; Lden range ≈ 15-98.5 dB(A)), we found "high" evidence of RR per 10 dB(A) = 1.07 (1.05, 1.10), high heterogeneity (I2 = 0.91%, p < 0.001), and high publication bias (LKF index = 4.55). Sensitivity analyses showed stable model results, and the GRADE assessment suggested the current overall quality of evidence is high. Comprehensive evidence from cohort studies supports that increasing exposure to road traffic noise may be associated with higher risk of T2DM.

A hybrid deep leaning model for prediction and parametric sensitivity analysis of noise annoyance

Noise annoyance is recognized as an expression of physiological and psychological strain in acoustical environment. The studies on prediction of noise annoyance and parametric sensitivity analysis of factors affecting it have been rarely reported in India. A hybrid ConvLSTM technique was developed in the study to predict traffic-induced noise annoyance in 484 people based on ambient noise levels, as well as survey information. Ambient noise levels were obtained at different locations of Dhanbad city using sound level meter at varying intervals, viz. 09AM-12PM, 03PM-06PM, and 08PM-11PM. The proposed method was compared with some well-known neural network techniques such as K-nearest neighbors (KNN), artificial neural network (ANN), recurrent neural network (RNN), and long-short-term memory (LSTM). The experimental results indicate that the proposed method outperforms other techniques and can be a reliable approach for prediction of noise annoyance with an accuracy of 93.8%. It can be concluded from noise maps that the noise levels in all locations of the Dhanbad city were higher than 70 dB(A) and noise sensitivity is the most important input variable of traffic-induced noise annoyance, followed by honking noise, education, exposure hours, L_Aeq, sleeping disorder, and chronic disease. The study shall facilitate in developing a decision support tool for prediction of noise annoyance and promoting implementation of suitable public policy in urban cities.

Urban Traffic Noise Analysis Using UAV-Based Array of Microphones

(1) Background: Transition to smart cities involves many actions in different fields of activity, such as economy, environment, energy, government, education, living and health, safety and security, and mobility. Environment and mobility are very important in terms of ensuring a good living in urban areas. Considering such arguments, this paper proposes monitoring and mapping of a 3D traffic-generated urban noise emissions using a simple, UAV-based, and low-cost solution. (2) Methods: The collection of relevant sound recordings is performed via a UAV-borne set of microphones, designed in a specific array configuration. Post-measurement data processing is performed to filter unwanted sound and vibrations produced by the UAV rotors. Collected noise information is location- and altitude-labeled to ensure a relevant 3D profile of data. (3) Results: Field measurements of sound levels in different directions and altitudes are presented in the paperwork. (4) Conclusions: The solution of employing UAV for environmental noise mapping results in being minimally invasive, low-cost, and effective in terms of rapidly producing environmental noise pollution maps for reports and future improvements in road infrastructure.

Pathways to Environmental Inequality: How Urban Traffic Noise Annoyance Varies across Socioeconomic Subgroups

The article investigates how socioeconomic background affects noise annoyance caused by residential road traffic in urban areas. It is argued that the effects of socioeconomic variables (migration background, education, and income) on noise annoyance tend to be underestimated because these effects are mainly indirect. We specify three indirect pathways. (1) A "noise exposure path" assumes that less privileged households are exposed to a higher level of noise and therefore experience stronger annoyance. (2) A "housing attributes path" argues that less privileged households can shield themselves less effectively from noise due to unfavorable housing conditions and that this contributes to annoyance. (3) Conversely, an "environmental susceptibility path" proposes that less privileged people are less concerned about the environment and have a lower noise sensitivity, and that this reduces their noise annoyance. Our analyses rest on a study carried out in four European cities (Mainz and Hanover in Germany, Bern and Zurich in Switzerland), and the results support the empirical validity of the three indirect pathways.

New determinants of mental health: the role of noise pollution. A narrative review

Urbanisation processes and anthropogenic actions led to a significant increase in pollution levels, with relevant consequences on global health. In particular, noise pollution demonstrated an association with cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory diseases. Furthermore, increasing evidence underlined the possible role of air and noise pollution in the development of psychiatric disorders. In this narrative review, evidence concerning the relationship between noise pollution and the emergence of psychiatric symptoms or psychiatric disorders is summarised. After the literature search process was completed, 40 papers were included in the present review. The exposure to road-, rail-, and air- traffic represented a risk factor for the emergence of affective disorders. This could also be mediated by the occurrence of circadian rhythms disturbances or by noise annoyance and noise sensitivity, both influencing psychological well-being and health-related quality of life. Fewer studies concentrated on special populations, particularly pregnant women and children, for whom noise pollution was confirmed as a risk factor for psychopathology. The better clarification of the complex interaction between noise pollution and mental health may help to identify subjects at risk and targeting specific prevention and intervention strategies in the urban environment.

The effects of indoor plants and traffic noise on English reading comprehension of Chinese university students in home offices

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home promotes the importance of indoor environment qualities. With the settings and functions of home offices, an experiment was carried out to determine the interaction effects between indoor plants and traffic noise levels (TNLs) on the performance and environmental evaluations of English reading comprehension tasks (ERCTs) and the performance of short-term breaks. A sample of 22 Chinese university students (12 males and 10 females) took part in the experiment. Two visual conditions (with and without plants) and five TNLs (i.e., 35, 45, 50, 55, and 60 dBA TNL) were included. Participants' accuracy rates, eye movements, mental workload, and feelings about the environment were collected. The mental fatigue recovery (MFR), visual fatigue recovery (VFR), anxiety recovery (AR), and unfriendly recovery (UR) were measured for the analysis of a 5-min short-term break. The results demonstrate (1) plants have significant effects on ERCTs and short-term breaks, especially at 45 and 50 dBA TNL; (2) the effects of TNLs on ERCTs' eye movements and work environment satisfaction differ by the presence of plants, e.g., the average pupil diameter (APD), lighting and layout satisfaction; (3) The effects of indoor plants on ERCT differ by the range of TNLs. In conclusion, indoor plants are beneficial to home workers engaged in ERCT when TNL does not exceed 50 dBA. The current data highlight the importance of audio-visual interaction in home offices and provide insights into the interaction mechanism between indoor plants and traffic noise.

Cerebral consequences of environmental noise exposure

The importance of noise exposure as a major environmental determinant of public health is being increasingly recognized. While in recent years a large body evidence has emerged linking environmental noise exposure mainly to cardiovascular disease, much less is known concerning the adverse health effects of noise on the brain and associated neuropsychiatric outcomes. Despite being a relatively new area of investigation, indeed, mounting research and conclusive evidence demonstrate that exposure to noise, primarily from traffic sources, may affect the central nervous system and brain, thereby contributing to an increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders such as stroke, dementia and cognitive decline, neurodevelopmental disorders, depression, and anxiety disorder. On a mechanistic level, a significant number of studies suggest the involvement of reactive oxygen species/oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, among others, to fundamentally drive the adverse brain health effects of noise exposure. This in-depth review on the cerebral consequences of environmental noise exposure aims to contribute to the associated research needs by evaluating current findings from human and animal studies. From a public health perspective, these findings may also help to reinforce efforts promoting adequate mitigation strategies and preventive measures to lower the societal consequences of unhealthy environments.

Determination of a cutoff for noise sensitivity: Psychometric evaluation of the Turkish Noise Sensitivity Questionnaire (Tr-NoiSeQ)

CONTEXT

There is a need for a clear cutoff to use noise sensitivity (NS) scale as a prediagnostic tool in research and clinical use.

AIMS

: Noise sensitivity questionnaire (NoiSeQ) was adapted into Turkish language (Tr-NoiSeQ); validity and reliability of the Tr-NoiSeQ were assessed. The cutoff for the Tr-NoiSeQ was determined.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

: A descriptive study within subject design.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A group of 402 participants aged between 18 and 52 years filled the Tr-NoiSeQ and the Turkish version of Weinstein noise sensitivity scale (Tr-WNSS) via internet.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Cronbach alpha (α) and the Spearman‒Brown coefficient were calculated for the reliability; Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used for the validity. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate cutoff value of the Tr-NoiSeQ.

RESULTS

For the Tr-NoiSeQ, Cronbach α was 0.92, Spearman‒Brown coefficient was 0.93 (P < 0.05). A high significant correlation between the Tr-WNSS and the Tr-NoiSeQ was obtained (r = 0.76, P < 0.05). The fit indexes of the model were obtained as (χ² = 1361.06, df = 546, P < 0.001), χ² / df = 2.49, root mean square error of approximation = 0.06, comparative fit index = 0.83, goodness of fit index = 0.82. The ROC curve showed that the cutoff for the Tr-NoiSeQ was 53 with a 0.92 sensitivity and a 0.85 specificity (P ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The Tr-NoiSeQ is a valid and reliable tool for use in both clinical practice and research. The Tr-NoiSeQ seems to be consistent with the Tr-WNSS and can be used as a screening tool to evaluate NS in audiology.

Association between Noise Annoyance and Mental Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To date, most studies of noise and mental health have focused on noise exposure rather than noise annoyance. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate whether the available evidence supports an adverse association between noise annoyance and mental health problems in people. We carried out a literature search of Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and conference proceedings published between 2000 and 2022. Thirteen papers met the inclusion criteria. We conducted meta-analyses of noise annoyance in relation to depression, anxiety, and general mental health. In the meta-analyses, we found that depression was approximately 1.23 times greater in those who were highly noise-annoyed (N = 8 studies). We found an approximately 55% higher risk of anxiety (N = 6) in highly noise-annoyed people. For general mental health (N = 5), highly annoyed participants had an almost 119% increased risk of mental health problems as assessed by Short Form (SF) or General Household Questionnaires (GHQ), but with high heterogeneity and risk of publication bias. In conclusion, findings are suggestive of a potential link between noise annoyance and poorer mental health based on a small number of studies. More evidence is needed to confirm these findings.

Transportation noise exposure and cardiovascular mortality: 15-years of follow-up in a nationwide prospective cohort in Switzerland

BACKGROUND

Death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been associated with transportation noise. This nationwide cohort, with state-of-the-art exposure assessment, evaluates these associations by noise source.

METHODS

Road traffic, railway and aircraft noise for 2001 and 2011 were linked to 4.1 million adults in the Swiss National Cohort, accounting for address history. Mean noise exposure in 5-year periods was calculated. Time-varying Cox regression models, with age as timescale, were applied to all and cause-specific cardiovascular causes of death. Models included all three noise sources plus PM_2.5, adjusted for individual and spatial covariates. Nighttime noise events for all sources combined (expressed as intermittency ratio or number of events) were considered in sensitivity analyses. Absolute excess risk was calculated by multiplying deaths/100,000 person-years by the excess risk (hazard ratio-1) within each age/sex group.

RESULTS

During a 15-year follow-up, there were 277,506 CVD and 34,200 myocardial infarction (MI) deaths. Associations (hazard ratio; 95%-CIs) for road traffic, railway and aircraft noise and CVD mortality were 1.029 (1.024-1.034), 1.013 (1.010-1.017), and 1.003 (0.996-1.010) per 10 dB L_den, respectively. Associations for MI mortality were a respective 1.043 (1.029-1.058), 1.020 (1.010-1.030) and 1.040 (1.020-1.060) per 10 dB L_den. Blood pressure-related, ischemic heart disease, and all stroke mortality were significantly associated with road traffic and railway noise, while ischemic stroke mortality was associated with aircraft noise. Associations were mostly linear, often starting below 40 dB L_den for road traffic and railway noise. Higher levels of noise intermittency were also independently associated with each outcome. While the absolute number of deaths attributed to noise increased with age, the hazard ratios declined with age. Relative and absolute risk was higher in males compared to females.

CONCLUSION

Independent of air pollution, transportation noise exposure is associated with all and cause-specific CVD mortality, with effects starting below current guideline limits.

Lärm und Luftverschmutzung: Ihr Einfluss auf psychische Erkrankungen

Immer mehr Studien belegen die Einflüsse von Lärm und Luftverschmutzung als bedeutsame Umweltrisikofaktoren für kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen. Weniger gut geklärt ist, wie diese Faktoren die psychische Gesundheit beeinflussen. Aktuelle Studienergebnisse zeigen, dass Umgebungslärm (vor allem Verkehrslärm) und verschiedene Bestandteile von Luftverschmutzung (vor allem Feinstaub) das Risiko für psychische Erkrankungen, insbesondere Depressionen und Angststörungen, erhöhen können. Pathophysiologische Mechanismen umfassen das enge Zusammenspiel von biologischen (wie oxidativem Stress und Inflammation) und psychosozialen Faktoren (wie mentalem Stress, subjektive Lärmbelästigung und -sensitivität). Umweltrisikofaktoren wie Lärm- und Luftverschmutzung können einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die psychische Gesundheit ausüben. Aufgrund der teils heterogenen Studienergebnisse und der limitierten Verfügbarkeit von methodisch hochwertigen Längsschnittstudien sind zwingend weitere Untersuchungen notwendig, um die zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen zu verstehen und präventive Maßnahmen abzuleiten.

Associations between Personal Attitudes towards COVID-19 and Public Space Soundscape Assessment: An Example from Antwerp, Belgium

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdown events and policies that followed, led to significant changes in the built environment and how it is experienced by people and communities. Among those, variations in the acoustic environments were some of the most noticeable in cities. This study investigated the relationships between the perception of the acoustic environment (i.e., soundscape) and different personal factors such as attitudes towards the pandemic and noise sensitivity, by performing a survey with 109 participants in an urban green public space in Antwerp (Belgium), shortly after most restrictions issued by the government were lifted in September 2020 when the first contamination wave ended. While preliminary in nature, the results of this data collection campaign show that people actively changing their behaviors (using less public transport or cycling more) assessed the soundscapes as less vibrant/exciting. People who were more concerned about the pandemic tended to notice more natural sounds and noise from traffic on nearby local roads. This same subset also put a bigger importance on the environmental quality of the public space than in the pre-pandemic period. Noise sensitivity also played a role, as an association was found between more-than-average noise sensitive persons and those more worried regarding the pandemic. Overall, the findings of this study confirm that at least part of the people have started to perceive the public space, including its soundscape, differently since the start of the pandemic.

Road traffic noise, noise sensitivity, noise annoyance, psychological and physical health and mortality

BACKGROUND

Both physical and psychological health outcomes have been associated with exposure to environmental noise. Noise sensitivity could have the same moderating effect on physical and psychological health outcomes related to environmental noise exposure as on annoyance but this has been little tested.

METHODS

A cohort of 2398 men between 45 and 59 years, the longitudinal Caerphilly Collaborative Heart Disease study, was established in 1984/88 and followed into the mid-1990s. Road traffic noise maps were assessed at baseline. Psychological ill-health was measured in phase 2 in 1984/88, phase 3 (1989/93) and phase 4 (1993/7). Ischaemic heart disease was measured in clinic at baseline and through hospital records and records of deaths during follow up. We examined the longitudinal associations between road traffic noise and ischaemic heart disease morbidity and mortality using Cox Proportional Hazard Models and psychological ill-health using Logistic Regression; we also examined whether noise sensitivity and noise annoyance might moderate these associations. We also tested if noise sensitivity and noise annoyance were longitudinal predictors of ischaemic heart disease morbidity and mortality and psychological ill-health.

RESULTS

Road traffic noise was not associated with ischaemic heart disease morbidity or mortality. Neither noise sensitivity nor noise annoyance moderated the effects of road traffic noise on ischaemic heart disease morbidity or mortality. High noise sensitivity was associated with lower ischaemic heart disease mortality risk (HR = 0.74, 95%CI 0.57, 0.97). Road traffic noise was associated with Phase 4 psychological ill-health but only among those exposed to 56-60dBA (fully adjusted OR = 1.82 95%CI 1.07, 3.07). Noise sensitivity moderated the association of road traffic noise exposure with psychological ill-health. High noise sensitivity was associated longitudinally with psychological ill-health at phase 3 (OR = 1.85 95%CI 1.23, 2.78) and phase 4 (OR = 1.65 95%CI 1.09, 2.50). Noise annoyance predicted psychological ill-health at phase 4 (OR = 2.47 95%CI 1.00, 6.13).

CONCLUSIONS

Noise sensitivity is a specific predictor of psychological ill-health and may be part of a wider construct of environmental susceptibility. Noise sensitivity may increase the risk of psychological ill-health when exposed to road traffic noise. Noise annoyance may be a mediator of the effects of road traffic noise on psychological ill-health.