Hypertension and Exposure to Noise Near Airports: the HYENA Study

Järup, Lars; Babisch, Wolfgang; Houthuijs, Danny; Pershagen, Göran; Katsouyanni, Klea; Cadum, Ennio; Dudley, Marie-Louise; Savigny, Pauline; Seiffert, Ingeburg; Swart, Wim; Breugelmans, Oscar; Bluhm, Gösta; Selander, Jenny; Haralabidis, Alexandros S.; Dimakopoulou, Konstantina; Sourtzi, Panayota; Velonakis, Manolis; Vigna‐Taglianti, Federica · 2007 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1289/ehp.10775

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Summary

The HYENA (Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports) study investigates the association between long-term exposure to aircraft and road traffic noise near airports and the risk of hypertension. Motivated by increasing air traffic and the established link between hypertension and cardiovascular disease, the study aimed to clarify whether environmental noise contributes to hypertension risk, building on previous inconsistent findings. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 4,861 participants aged 45–70 years who had resided for at least five years near six major European airports in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, and Greece. Data were collected via home visits, including blood pressure measurements using validated automated instruments and questionnaires covering health, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors. Noise exposure was assessed using detailed predictive models with high spatial resolution (250 × 250 m for aircraft; 10 × 10 m for road traffic) and 1-dB resolution. The study distinguished between daytime aircraft noise ($L_{Aeq,16hr}$), night-time aircraft noise ($L_{night}$), and 24-hour average road traffic noise ($L_{Aeq,24hr}$). Statistical analyses employed logistic regression, adjusting for confounders such as age, sex, body mass index, alcohol intake, education, and physical activity. The study found significant exposure–response relationships between hypertension risk and both night-time aircraft noise and average daily road traffic noise. A 10-dB increase in night-time aircraft noise exposure was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.14 (95% CI, 1.01–1.29). Similarly, a 10-dB increase in 24-hour average road traffic noise yielded an OR of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.003–1.201). Daytime aircraft noise did not show a statistically significant association. Notably, the association with road traffic noise was stronger in men, with an OR of 1.54 (95% CI, 0.99–2.40) in the highest exposure category (>65 dB), whereas no significant trend was observed in women. The prevalence of hypertension varied by country, ranging from 48.8% in the UK to 57.0% in Greece. The authors conclude that long-term exposure to environmental noise, particularly night-time aircraft noise and daily average road traffic noise, is associated with an excess risk of hypertension. The findings suggest that noise-induced hypertension may result from persistent vascular changes. The study highlights the public health significance of noise pollution, given the large populations exposed near airports. However, the authors note limitations, including varying participation rates across countries and potential heterogeneity in road traffic noise effects among nations. The results support the hypothesis that environmental noise is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular health.

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