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

Stansfeld, Stephen; Clark, Charlotte; Smuk, Melanie; Gallacher, John; Babisch, Wolfgang · 2021 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00720-3

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Summary

This study investigates the longitudinal associations between road traffic noise exposure, noise sensitivity, noise annoyance, and subsequent physical and psychological health outcomes. While previous research has linked environmental noise to cardiovascular disease and mental health issues, it remains unclear whether individual traits like noise sensitivity moderate these effects or act as independent predictors. The authors aimed to determine if noise sensitivity and annoyance influence the relationship between traffic noise and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) morbidity/mortality, as well as psychological ill-health, in a male cohort. The research utilized data from the Caerphilly Collaborative Heart Disease Study, a longitudinal cohort of 2,398 men aged 45–59 established in the mid-1980s. Road traffic noise levels were mapped at baseline using A-weighted sound pressure measurements. Psychological ill-health, defined as common mental disorder including anxiety and depression, was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire at baseline and two follow-up phases (1989–93 and 1993–97). IHD morbidity and mortality were tracked through clinic visits, hospital records, and death notifications. Noise sensitivity was measured via Weinstein’s self-report scale, and annoyance via a single-item survey. Statistical analyses employed Cox Proportional Hazard Models for IHD outcomes and Logistic Regression for psychological ill-health, adjusting for covariates such as age, social class, smoking, and BMI. The results indicated no significant association between road traffic noise exposure and IHD morbidity or mortality. Neither noise sensitivity nor noise annoyance moderated the effects of noise on cardiovascular outcomes. Unexpectedly, high noise sensitivity was associated with a lower risk of IHD mortality (HR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.57–0.97). In contrast, road traffic noise was significantly associated with psychological ill-health at the final follow-up phase, but only among men exposed to 56–60 dBA (OR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.07–3.07). Noise sensitivity moderated this association, with high sensitivity predicting psychological ill-health at both follow-up phases (Phase 3 OR = 1.85; Phase 4 OR = 1.65). Additionally, noise annoyance predicted psychological ill-health at the final phase (OR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.00–6.13). The findings suggest that noise sensitivity is a specific predictor of psychological ill-health and may represent a broader construct of environmental susceptibility. While road traffic noise did not independently predict cardiovascular disease in this cohort, noise sensitivity increased the risk of psychological distress when combined with noise exposure. The authors conclude that noise annoyance may mediate the effects of traffic noise on mental health, whereas noise sensitivity acts as a moderator. These results highlight the importance of considering individual vulnerability factors, such as noise sensitivity, in understanding the health impacts of environmental noise, particularly regarding psychological outcomes.

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