How Might People Near National Roads Be Affected by Traffic Noise as Electric Vehicles Increase in Number? A Laboratory Study of Subjective Evaluations of Environmental Noise

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.

Residential proximity to major roadways and hearing impairment in Chinese older adults: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

With rapid urban sprawl, growing people are living in the vicinity of major roadways. However, little is known about the relationship between residential proximity to major roadways and hearing impairment (HI).

METHODS

We derived data from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, and included 13,775 participants aged 65 years or older. Multivariate logistic regressions were employed to examine the association between residential proximity to major roadways and HI. The effects of corresponding potentially modifiable factors were studied by three-way interaction analyses. Sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the results.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HI was 38.3%. Participants living near major roadways were more likely to have a higher socioeconomic status. An exposure-response relation between residential proximity to major roadways and HI was observed (Ptrend < 0.05). Compared with individuals living > 300 m away from major roadways, the adjusted odds ratios (OR) were 1.07 (95% CI: 0.96-1.24), 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07-1.34), and 1.12 (95% CI: 1.01-1.31) for those living 101-200 m, 50-100 m, and < 50 m away from the roadways, respectively. Particularly, the association was more pronounced among individuals exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) pollution or opening windows frequently (Pinteraction < 0.05). Three-way interaction analyses confirmed that participants exposed to CO pollution and frequently leaving windows open had the highest OR of 1.73 (95% CI: 1.58-1.89).

CONCLUSIONS

This nation-wide cohort study suggested that residential proximity to major roadways was significantly associated with an increased exposure-response risk of HI in Chinese older adults. Exposure to CO pollution and opening windows frequently might strengthen the relations.

New Risk Situations Related to Low Noise from Electric Vehicles: Perception of Workers as Pedestrians and Other Vehicle Drivers

Sales of electric and hybrid electric vehicles are increasing steadily worldwide, and consequently their presence increases in city areas. At low speeds, the low levels of noise produced by these vehicles could become a new risk factor for road users. However, the magnitude of the risk has not been accurately determined. In addition, its inclusion in the work environment could pose a new risk that should be managed. Thus, in relation to low noise levels of electric and hybrid vehicles, this study aimed to characterise the risk situations and determine the risk perception of workers as pedestrians and internal combustion engine vehicle drivers coming into contact with these vehicles. The data were extracted from 417 questionnaires filled out by the employees of public service companies who come into contact with electric and hybrid vehicles during their working day in the city of Málaga, in the region of Andalusia, Spain. According to the experiences reported, it seems that the risk due to the low noise levels of electric vehicles is moderate and does not reach alarming levels. These risk situations usually occurred in low speed urban areas, particularly when crossing the road, or in semi-pedestrian areas. Almost half the respondents considered that the electric vehicle poses a risk to other road users because it is more difficult to hear, and they believe it likely that other road users could be injured. Despite that risk, pedestrians did not change their way of walking or moving around the parking areas and other areas of the company. Electric and hybrid electric cars are now required to produce sound when travelling at low speeds. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of this measure should be assessed once implemented and future research should explore alternative non-acoustic measures.