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Roche IV, Ubalde-Lopez M, Daher C, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Gascon M. The Health-Related and Learning Performance Effects of Air Pollution and Other Urban-Related Environmental Factors on School-Age Children and Adolescents-A Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:300-316. [PMID: 38369581 PMCID: PMC11082043 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00431-0] [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] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This scoping review aims to assess the impact of air pollution, traffic noise, heat, and green and blue space exposures on the physical and cognitive development of school-age children and adolescents. While existing evidence indicates adverse effects of transport-related exposures on their health, a comprehensive scoping review is necessary to consolidate findings on various urban environmental exposures' effects on children's development. RECENT FINDINGS There is consistent evidence on how air pollution negatively affects children's cognitive and respiratory health and learning performance, increasing their susceptibility to diseases in their adult life. Scientific evidence on heat and traffic noise, while less researched, indicates that they negatively affect children's health. On the contrary, green space exposure seems to benefit or mitigate these adverse effects, suggesting a potential strategy to promote children's cognitive and physical development in urban settings. This review underscores the substantial impact of urban exposures on the physical and mental development of children and adolescents. It highlights adverse health effects that can extend into adulthood, affecting academic opportunities and well-being beyond health. While acknowledging the necessity for more research on the mechanisms of air pollution effects and associations with heat and noise exposure, the review advocates prioritizing policy changes and urban planning interventions. This includes minimizing air pollution and traffic noise while enhancing urban vegetation, particularly in school environments, to ensure the healthy development of children and promote lifelong health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Valls Roche
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Mònica Ubalde-Lopez
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolyn Daher
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mireia Gascon
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Huang L, Ma J, Jiang F, Zhang S, Lan Y, Zhang Y. Relationship Between Work-Related Noise Exposure and Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study in China. J Alzheimers Dis 2024:JAD240061. [PMID: 38848172 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240061] [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: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Background Noise exposure and the risk of cognitive impairment are currently major public health issues. Objective This study aimed to analyze the relationship between noise exposure and early impairment of cognitive function from the perspective of occupational epidemiology and to provide evidence for the long-term prevention and treatment of dementia in the context of aging. Methods This study was conducted in China between May and August 2021. The independent variables were the type of hazardous factors, duration of noise exposure, perceived noise intensity, and cumulative noise exposure (CNE). The dependent variable was cognitive function, which was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Multiple linear and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between noise exposure and cognitive function and to establish an effect curve. Results The detection rates of cognitive dysfunction using the MMSE and MoCA were 1.1% and 36.2%, respectively. The predicted MMSE and MoCA scores showed a downward trend within the CNE value ranging from 90-140 dB.time. Each unit increase in CNE decreased cognitive function scores by 0.025 (0.037, 0.013) and 0.020 (0.037, 0.003) points,respectively. Conclusions From the perspective of occupational epidemiology, these findings reveal a potential link between long-term noise exposure and early cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Huang
- Department of Postgraduate Students, West China Hospital and West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingxuan Ma
- Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fugui Jiang
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Shushan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Yajia Lan
- Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Periodical Press and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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López-Bueno JA, Padrón-Monedero A, Díaz J, Navas-Martín MA, Linares C. Short-term impact of air pollution, noise and temperature on emergency hospital admissions in Madrid (Spain) due to liver and gallbladder diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118439. [PMID: 38346485 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118439] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Very few epidemiological studies have explored the environmental and meteorological risk factors that influence liver diseases and gallbladder disorders, and no studies have addressed the specific case of Spain. METHODS This is a retrospective ecological study conducted during 2013-2018. We analysed emergency admissions in the central area of the Region of Madrid for the following causes: Liver and gallbladder diseases (L&GB) (ICD-10: K70-K81); disorders of gallbladder (DGB) (ICD 10: K80-K81); liver disease (LD) (ICD 10: K70-K77); alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (ICD-10: K70); viral hepatitis (VH) (ICD10:B15-B19); and hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified (HFNS) (ICD-10: K72). Independent variables used: meteorological (maximum daily temperature (Tmax in ⁰C), minimum daily temperature (Tmin in ⁰C), and relative humidity (RH in %)); chemical air pollution (8-hO3, NO2, PM10, PM2.5 in μg/m3); and noise pollution (equivalent level of daily noise (Ld in dB(A)). Transformed variables: extreme heat in degrees (Theat); wet cold (WC); and high ozone. We fitted Poisson models, negative binomials and zero-inflated Poisson controlled for seasonality, day of the week, holidays, trend, and autoregressive trend. Based on these models, the percentage of cases attributable to statistically significant risk factors was then estimated. RESULTS In L&GB emergency admissions daily noise is related to 4.4% (CI95%: 0.8 7.9) of admissions; NO2 to 2.9% (CI95%: 0.1 5.7) and wet cold to 0.2% (CI95%: 0.8 7.9). Heat wave temperature was only related to ALD. In addition, the wet cold association with L&GB is also related to HFNS attributing 1.0% (CI95%: 0.3 1.8) of admissions for this cause. CONCLUSIONS Daily noise and NO2 are associated with more than 7% of urgent L&GB admissions. Both pollutants, are mainly emitted by road traffic. A reduction of traffic in cities would result in a reduction of emergency admissions due to this cause.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A López-Bueno
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Padrón-Monedero
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Díaz
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.
| | - M A Navas-Martín
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Linares
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
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Ayşenur T, Nuran G, Cihan K, Huri B. The Effect of Nonstress Device Noise Level on Stress Parameters in Primigravid Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Midwifery Womens Health 2024; 69:279-286. [PMID: 38178318 DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13581] [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] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study evaluated the effect of the noise level of the nonstress test (NST) device on stress parameters in primigravid women. METHODS A total of 44 pregnant women participated in a randomized clinical trial between February and October, 2021. The participants were divided randomly into 4 equal groups using an automated web-based randomization system and ensuring allocation concealment: the control group (NST device volume turned off), intervention group I (1-35 dB(A)), intervention group II (36-60 dB(A)), and intervention group III (61 dB(A) and above). A data collection form was used to record personal information and stress parameters. Stress parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation [SpO2], blood glucose, salivary cortisol, and salivary adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH]) levels were measured pretest (0-2 minutes before NST starts), midtest (at 10 minutes of the NST), and posttest (within 0-2 minutes after NST was finished). The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT05488704). RESULTS NST sound levels above 35 dB(A) increased the average cortisol and ACTH levels in the posttest. NST sound levels were positively correlated with posttest cortisol (r = .448) and posttest glucose (r = .302). There was interaction effect on heart rate, glucose, and cortisol level by time, indicating that the intervention groups experienced a significant acceleration in heart rate, glucose, and cortisol level after a noise intervention compared with the control group. DISCUSSION Midwives should continue applying NST below 36 dB(A), considering the factors that may induce stress during the NST process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turan Ayşenur
- Department of Midwifery, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Institute of Graduate Studies, Midwifery Doctorate Program, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Midwifery, Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gençtürk Nuran
- Department of Midwifery, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Health Science, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Kaya Cihan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Bakırköy Acıbadem Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bulut Huri
- Department of Biochemistry, Istınye University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
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Wicki B, Vienneau D, Schäffer B, Müller TJ, Raub U, Widrig J, Pervilhac C, Röösli M. Acute effects of military aircraft noise on sedative and analgesic drug administrations in psychiatric patients: A case-time series analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108501. [PMID: 38368719 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108501] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing evidence suggests that psychiatric patients are highly noise sensitive, and that noise exposure increases the risk for adverse mental health outcomes, such as psychiatric hospitalizations and even suicide. To investigate acute effects of noise in this vulnerable population, we assessed short-term associations between fighter jet noise and on-demand sedative and analgesic drug administrations in a psychiatric clinic located close to a military airfield in Switzerland. METHODS We applied a case time series analysis with an hourly time resolution using distributed-lag models. Analysis was adjusted for long-term and seasonal trends, day of week, time of day, time-varying weather conditions and the week of stay. Noise exposure (hourly A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure levels (LAeq)) was modelled using detailed flight plans and noise footprints for different fighter jet and route combinations. Outcome data were available from the clinic's records. OUTCOMES During the study period (06/2016-12/2021), 23,486 flights occurred. 5,968 clinical stays with a median length of 41 days (IQR: 28d, 50d) were recorded. The odds ratio (OR) for medication administration over the lag period of 3 hours after exposure was 1.016 (95 %CI: 1.006, 1.026) per 10 dB LAeq for sedatives and 1.032 (95 %CI: 1.016, 1.048) per 10 dB for analgesics. Effects were larger in multimorbid patients. INTERPRETATION Case time series analysis is a novel method to investigate transient associations in observational data while minimizing risk of bias. Using an objectively recorded outcome measure, our results demonstrate that psychiatric patients are a vulnerable population, in which noise exposure can lead to symptom exacerbations and adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Wicki
- Swiss TPH (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute), Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Danielle Vienneau
- Swiss TPH (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute), Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Beat Schäffer
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Thomas J Müller
- Translational Research Centre, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Private Clinic Meiringen, Meiringen, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Raub
- Private Clinic Meiringen, Meiringen, Switzerland
| | | | - Charlotte Pervilhac
- Private Clinic Meiringen, Meiringen, Switzerland; Institute of Psychology, Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss TPH (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute), Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Liang P, Li J, Li Z, Wei J, Li J, Zhang S, Xu S, Liu Z, Wang J. Effect of low-frequency noise exposure on cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:125. [PMID: 38195479 PMCID: PMC10775542 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17593-5] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-frequency noise may cause changes in cognitive function. However, there is no established consensus on the effect of low-frequency noise on cognitive function. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the relationship between low-frequency noise exposure and cognitive function. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and identified original studies written in English on low-frequency noise and cognition published before December 2022 using the PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science databases. The risk of bias was evaluated according to established guidelines. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed where appropriate. To explore the association between low-frequency noise exposure and cognitive function, we reviewed eight relevant studies. These studies covered cognitive functions grouped into four domains: attention, executive function, memory, and higher-order cognitive functions. The data extraction process was followed by a random-effects meta-analysis for each domain, which allowed us to quantify the overall effect. RESULTS Our analysis of the selected studies suggested that interventions involving low-frequency noise only had a negative impact on higher-order cognitive functions (Z = 2.42, p = 0.02), with a standardized mean difference of -0.37 (95% confidence interval: -0.67, -0.07). A moderate level of heterogeneity was observed among studies (p = 0.24, I2 = 29%, Tau2 = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Our study findings suggest that low-frequency noise can negatively impact higher-order cognitive functions, such as logical reasoning, mathematical calculation, and data processing. Therefore, it becomes important to consider the potential negative consequences of low-frequency noise in everyday situations, and proactive measures should be taken to address this issue and mitigate the associated potential adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liang
- Department of Rehabilitative Physioltherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
- Hospital of No. 95007 Unit of PLA, Guangzhou, 510410, China
| | - Jiangjing Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Zenglei Li
- Department of Rehabilitative Physioltherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Radiation Medical Protection, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710068, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Radiation Medical Protection, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710068, China
| | - Shenghao Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, the 940th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Shenglong Xu
- Department of Radiation Medical Protection, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710068, China
| | - Zhaohui Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China.
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Radiation Medical Protection, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710068, China.
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Yang L, Gutierrez DE, Guthrie OW. Systemic health effects of noise exposure. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2024; 27:21-54. [PMID: 37957800 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2023.2280837] [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: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Noise, any unwanted sound, is pervasive and impacts large populations worldwide. Investigators suggested that noise exposure not only induces auditory damage but also produces various organ system dysfunctions. Although previous reviews primarily focused on noise-induced cardiovascular and cerebral dysfunctions, this narrow focus has unintentionally led the research community to disregard the importance of other vital organs. Indeed, limited studies revealed that noise exposure impacts other organs including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, lung, and gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the aim of this review was to examine the effects of noise on both the extensively studied organs, the brain and heart, but also determine noise impact on other vital organs. The goal was to illustrate a comprehensive understanding of the systemic effects of noise. These systemic effects may guide future clinical research and epidemiological endpoints, emphasizing the importance of considering noise exposure history in diagnosing various systemic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- Cell & Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel E Gutierrez
- Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - O'neil W Guthrie
- Cell & Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
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Pérez-Crespo L, López-Vicente M, Valentín A, Burgaleta M, Foraster M, Tiemeier H, Guxens M. Association between residential exposure to road traffic noise and cognitive and motor function outcomes in children and preadolescents. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108414. [PMID: 38199128 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108414] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to environmental noise is increasing in recent years but most of the previous literature in children has evaluated the effect of aircraft noise exposure at schools on cognition. OBJECTIVE To assess whether residential exposure to road traffic noise during pregnancy and childhood is associated with cognitive and motor function in children and preadolescents. METHODS The study involved 619 participants from the Spanish INMA-Sabadell cohort and 7,115 from the Dutch Generation R Study. We used noise maps to estimate the average day-evening-night road traffic noise levels at each participant's residential address during pregnancy and childhood periods. Validated tests were administered throughout childhood in both cohorts to assess non-verbal and verbal intelligence, memory, processing speed, attentional function, working memory, cognitive flexibility, risky decision-making, and fine and gross motor function. Linear models, linear mixed models, and negative binomial models were run depending on the outcome in cohort-specific analysis and combined with a random-effects meta-analysis. All models were adjusted for several socioeconomic and lifestyle variables and results corrected for multiple testing. RESULTS Average road traffic noise exposure levels during pregnancy and childhood were 61.3 (SD 6.0) and 61.5 (SD 5.4) dB for the INMA-Sabadell cohort and 54.6 (SD 7.9) and 53.5 (SD 6.5) dB for the Generation R Study, respectively. Road traffic noise exposure during pregnancy and childhood was not related to any of the cognitive and motor function outcomes examined in this study (e.g. -0.92 (95 % CI -2.08; 0.24) and 0.20 (95 % CI -0.96; 1.35) in overall estimates of memory and fine motor function, respectively, when road traffic noise increases by 10 dB during childhood). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that child's cognitive or motor functions are not affected by residential exposure to road traffic noise. However, more studies evaluating this association at school and home settings as well as noise events are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pérez-Crespo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Mónica López-Vicente
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Antònia Valentín
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Miguel Burgaleta
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psicobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Foraster
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Lull (URL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Balk SJ, Bochner RE, Ramdhanie MA, Reilly BK. Preventing Excessive Noise Exposure in Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Pediatrics 2023; 152:e2023063753. [PMID: 37864408 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-063753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Noise exposure is a major cause of hearing loss in adults. Yet, noise affects people of all ages, and noise-induced hearing loss is also a problem for young people. Sensorineural hearing loss caused by noise and other toxic exposures is usually irreversible. Environmental noise, such as traffic noise, can affect learning, physiologic parameters, and quality of life. Children and adolescents have unique vulnerabilities to noise. Children may be exposed beginning in NICUs and well-baby nurseries, at home, at school, in their neighborhoods, and in recreational settings. Personal listening devices are increasingly used, even by small children. Infants and young children cannot remove themselves from noisy situations and must rely on adults to do so, children may not recognize hazardous noise exposures, and teenagers generally do not understand the consequences of high exposure to music from personal listening devices or attending concerts and dances. Environmental noise exposure has disproportionate effects on underserved communities. In this report and the accompanying policy statement, common sources of noise and effects on hearing at different life stages are reviewed. Noise-abatement interventions in various settings are discussed. Because noise exposure often starts in infancy and its effects result mainly from cumulative exposure to loud noise over long periods of time, more attention is needed to its presence in everyday activities starting early in life. Listening to music and attending dances, concerts, and celebratory and other events are sources of joy, pleasure, and relaxation for many people. These situations, however, often result in potentially harmful noise exposures. Pediatricians can potentially lessen exposures, including promotion of safer listening, by raising awareness in parents, children, and teenagers. Noise exposure is underrecognized as a serious public health issue in the United States, with exposure limits enforceable only in workplaces and not for the general public, including children and adolescents. Greater awareness of noise hazards is needed at a societal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie J Balk
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Risa E Bochner
- Department of Pediatrics, New York City Health and Hospitals Harlem, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | | | - Brian K Reilly
- Otolaryngology and Pediatrics, George Washington University Medical School, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia
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Visentin C, Torresin S, Pellegatti M, Prodi N. Indoor soundscape in primary school classroomsa). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:1813-1826. [PMID: 37728288 DOI: 10.1121/10.0020833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Soundscape research on indoor environments is emerging as a topic to be addressed for the design of supportive, healthier, and more comfortable spaces. Only a few studies so far addressed the context of educational buildings, mainly focusing on high schools and universities. This pilot study uses questionnaires based on pictorial scales to investigate the indoor soundscape of classrooms for primary school children (n = 130; 8-10 years old). Perceived loudness and the affective dimensions of pleasantness and arousal were explored. Besides the actual soundscape, the children's ideal soundscape was investigated as well. The results of the study indicate that the most frequent sounds in classrooms are generated by the students themselves (voices, movements) followed by the traffic. The urban context of the school modulates the children's perception when windows are open to ensure natural ventilation. Pleasantness is associated with students' age, perceived loudness, and frequency of children's voices in nearby classrooms. The frequency of hearing indoor sounds (children's voices) and sirens affects students' arousal. Our results indicate that children at school are mostly exposed to unpleasant sounds, whereas their preferred ones are music and nature-related ones. The findings have implications for the design of positive and inclusive learning environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Visentin
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Simone Torresin
- Institute for Renewable Energy, Eurac Research, Via A. Volta/A. Volta Straße 13/A, 39100 Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - Matteo Pellegatti
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicola Prodi
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
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Gómez González L, Linares C, Díaz J, Egea A, Calle-Martínez A, Luna MY, Navas MA, Ascaso-Sánchez MS, Ruiz-Páez R, Asensio C, Padrón-Monedero A, López-Bueno JA. Short-term impact of noise, other air pollutants and meteorological factors on emergency hospital mental health admissions in the Madrid region. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 224:115505. [PMID: 36805353 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115505] [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: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A number of environmental factors, such as air pollution, noise in urbanised settings and meteorological-type variables, may give rise to important effects on human health. In recent years, many studies have confirmed the relation between various mental disorders and these factors, with a possible impact on the increase in emergency hospital admissions due to these causes. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of a range of environmental factors on daily emergency hospital admissions due to mental disorders in the Madrid Autonomous Region (MAR), across the period 2013-2018. METHODOLOGY Longitudinal ecological time series study analysed by Generalised Linear Models with Poisson regression, with the dependent variable being daily Emergency Hospital Mental Health Admissions (EHMHA) in the MAR, and the independent variable being mean daily concentrations of chemical pollutants, noise levels and meteorological variables. RESULTS EHMHA were related statistically significantly in the short term with diurnal noise levels. Relative risks (RRs) for total admissions due to mental disorders and self-inflicted injuries, in the case of diurnal noise was RR: 1.008 95%CI (1.003 1.013). Admissions attributable to diurnal noise account for 5.5% of total admissions across the study period. There was no association between hospital admissions and chemical air pollution. CONCLUSION Noise is a variable that shows a statistically significant short-term association with EHMHA across all age groups in the MAR region. The results of this study may serve as a basis for drawing up public health guidelines and plans, which regard these variables as risk factors for mental disorders, especially in the case of noise, since this fundamentally depends on anthropogenic activities in highly urbanised areas with high levels of traffic density.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gómez González
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Linares
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Díaz
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
| | - A Egea
- Residente de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública Hospital General Universitario de Albacete, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Calle-Martínez
- Residente de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hospital Universitario, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Y Luna
- State Meteorological Agency Agencia Estatal de Meteorología/AEMET, Madrid, Spain
| | - M A Navas
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - M S Ascaso-Sánchez
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - C Asensio
- Universidad Politéctnica de Madrid. Grupo de Investigación en Instrumentación y Acústica Aplicada Ctra. Valencia km 7 - Campus sur - 28031, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Padrón-Monedero
- National School of Public Health, National Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - J A López-Bueno
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
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12
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Flanagan E, Malmqvist E, Oudin A, Sunde Persson K, Alkan Ohlsson J, Mattisson K. Health impact assessment of road traffic noise exposure based on different densification scenarios in Malmö, Sweden. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 174:107867. [PMID: 36963157 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107867] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
While urbanization provides many opportunities to those arriving in thriving urban areas, a greater number of residents necessitates the expansion of housing and infrastructure. This is often achieved through densification, which can lead to increased noise, particularly through increased road traffic. A key challenge of promoting healthy urban planning is to understand potential health effects, especially on the local level. The aim of the present study is, therefore, to estimate and compare the health impacts of road traffic noise exposure for various urban densification scenarios within a neighborhood (Lorensborg) in Malmö, Sweden. The three scenarios include 1) Present-day, representing the study area as it is presently organized; 2) Planned municipal strategy (the city of Malmö's own densification plans) and 3) Health-centred, which involves major structural alterations and reflects an effort prioritize a health-centred approach. Noise was modelled using the Nordic prediction method for road traffic. Health outcomes included noise annoyance, adverse sleep disturbance, ischemic heart disease (IHD) incidence and mortality. Within all scenarios, a large proportion of the study population was exposed above the WHO's health-based guideline value (Lden 53 dB): >80% for Present-day and Planned municipal strategy scenarios, and almost 50% in the Health-centred scenario. Still, densifying Lorensborg (population ≈9,600) according to the Health-centred scenario could prevent 549 cases of highly annoyed, 193 cases of adverse sleep disturbance, 4.7 new cases of IHD (8.9% of total cases), and 1.5 deaths due to IHD (17.8% of IHD mortality) annually. The results demonstrated that it is possible to considerably lower the health impact with a more health-centred densification strategy. Important co-benefits for public and environmental health include air pollution reduction and green space creation, although their health effects were not quantified in the present study. Urban planning initiatives must be more ambitious in order to create healthy, sustainable cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Flanagan
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - Ebba Malmqvist
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - Anna Oudin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - Karin Sunde Persson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
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Hemker F, Haselhoff T, Brunner S, Lawrence BT, Ickstadt K, Moebus S. The Role of Traffic Volume on Sound Pressure Level Reduction before and during COVID-19 Lockdown Measures-A Case Study in Bochum, Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5060. [PMID: 36981969 PMCID: PMC10048852 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065060] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, sound pressure levels (SPL) decreased because of lockdown measures all over the world. This study aims to describe SPL changes over varying lockdown measure timeframes and estimate the role of traffic on SPL variations. To account for different COVID-19 lockdown measures, the timeframe during the pandemic was segmented into four phases. To analyze the association between a-weighted decibels (dB(A)) and lockdown phases relative to the pre-lockdown timeframe, we calculated a linear mixed model, using 36,710 h of recording time. Regression coefficients depicting SPL changes were compared, while the model was subsequently adjusted for wind speed, rainfall, and traffic volume. The relative adjusted reduction of during pandemic phases to pre-pandemic levels ranged from -0.99 dB(A) (CI: -1.45; -0.53) to -0.25 dB(A) (CI: -0.96; 0.46). After controlling for traffic volume, we observed little to no reduction (-0.16 dB(A) (CI: -0.77; 0.45)) and even an increase of 0.75 dB(A) (CI: 0.18; 1.31) during the different lockdown phases. These results showcase the major role of traffic regarding the observed reduction. The findings can be useful in assessing measures to decrease noise pollution for necessary future population-based prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk Hemker
- Institute for Urban Public Health (InUPH), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Timo Haselhoff
- Institute for Urban Public Health (InUPH), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Susanne Brunner
- Department of Statistics, TU Dortmund University, Vogelpothsweg 87, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Bryce T. Lawrence
- Research Group Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning, Department of Spatial Planning, TU Dortmund University, Vogelpothsweg 87, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Katja Ickstadt
- Department of Statistics, TU Dortmund University, Vogelpothsweg 87, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Susanne Moebus
- Institute for Urban Public Health (InUPH), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
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14
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Tangermann L, Vienneau D, Saucy A, Hattendorf J, Schäffer B, Wunderli JM, Röösli M. The association of road traffic noise with cognition in adolescents: A cohort study in Switzerland. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 218:115031. [PMID: 36502901 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115031] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental noise exposure has been shown to affect children's cognition, but the concept of cognition is multifaceted, and studies on associations with noise are still inconclusive and fragmented. We studied cognitive change within one year in 882 adolescents aged 10-17 years in response to road traffic noise exposure. Participants filled in a comprehensive questionnaire and underwent cognitive testing twice at an interval of one year. Figural and verbal memory was measured with the Intelligenz-Struktur-Test (IST), and concentration accuracy and constancy were measured with FAKT-II and d2 test. Exposure to noise and other environmental stressors were modelled for school and home location at baseline. Missing data was addressed with multiple imputation. Cross-sectional multilevel analyses and longitudinal change score analyses were performed. In cross-sectional analyses, figural memory was significantly reduced by -0.27 (95%CI -0.49,-0.04) units per 10 dB road traffic noise increase at home (Lden). Longitudinal analyses showed a significant reduction of concentration constancy Z-scores between baseline and follow-up by -0.13 (95%CI -0.25, 0.00) per 10 dB road traffic noise at home (Lden). Our study indicates that road traffic noise at home reduces cognitive performance in adolescents. Larger cohorts with longer follow-up time are needed to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Tangermann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Danielle Vienneau
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Apolline Saucy
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland; Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader, 88, ES-08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jan Hattendorf
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Beat Schäffer
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Jean Marc Wunderli
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland.
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15
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Chen Y, Hansell AL, Clark SN, Cai YS. Environmental noise and health in low-middle-income-countries: A systematic review of epidemiological evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120605. [PMID: 36347406 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Evidence of the health impacts from environmental noise has largely been drawn from studies in high-income countries, which has then been used to inform development of noise guidelines. It is unclear whether findings in high-income countries can be readily translated into policy contexts in low-middle-income-countries (LMICs). We conducted this systematic review to summarise noise epidemiological studies in LMICs. We conducted a literature search of studies in Medline and Web of Science published during 2009-2021, supplemented with specialist journal hand searches. Screening, data extraction, assessment of risk of bias as well as overall quality and strength of evidence were conducted following established guidelines (e.g. Navigation Guide). 58 studies were identified, 53% of which were from India, China and Bulgaria. Most (92%) were cross-sectional studies. 53% of studies assessed noise exposure based on fixed-site measurements using sound level meters and 17% from propagation-based noise models. Mean noise exposure among all studies ranged from 48 to 120 dB (Leq), with over half of the studies (52%) reporting the mean between 60 and 80 dB. The most studied health outcome was noise annoyance (43% of studies), followed by cardiovascular (17%) and mental health outcomes (17%). Studies generally reported a positive (i.e. adverse) relationship between noise exposure and annoyance. Some limited evidence based on only two studies showing that long-term noise exposure may be associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular outcomes in adults. Findings on mental health outcomes were inconsistent across the studies. Overall, 4 studies (6%) had "probably low", 18 (31%) had "probably high" and 36 (62%) had "high" risk of bias. Quality of evidence was rated as 'low' for mental health outcomes and 'very low' for all other outcomes. Strength of evidence for each outcome was assessed as 'inadequate', highlighting high-quality epidemiological studies are urgently needed in LMICs to strengthen the evidence base.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxin Chen
- Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Environmental Exposure and Health at the University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
| | - Anna L Hansell
- Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Environmental Exposure and Health at the University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Sierra N Clark
- Noise and Public Health, Radiation Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Science Group, UK Health Security Agency, UK
| | - Yutong Samuel Cai
- Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Environmental Exposure and Health at the University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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16
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Torresin S, Ratcliffe E, Aletta F, Albatici R, Babich F, Oberman T, Kang J. The actual and ideal indoor soundscape for work, relaxation, physical and sexual activity at home: A case study during the COVID-19 lockdown in London. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1038303. [PMID: 36643696 PMCID: PMC9835560 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1038303] [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: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The period of home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic made the importance of a high-quality surrounding environment even more evident than before. Several studies have been carried out to assess the (negative) impacts of noise on annoyance, particularly whilst working from home (WFH). The present study takes a step further by (1) investigating the positive and negative impacts of the "actual" acoustic environment on a range of activities, i.e., WFH, relaxation, physical, and sexual activities, and (2) identifying the characteristics of an "ideal" indoor soundscape. The study is based on the qualitative analysis of verbal descriptions collected from open-ended questions included in a survey administered in January 2021 to 464 respondents living in London, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The range of impacts in the actual scenario varied from no effect on task execution, to disruption, distraction, concern of disturbing others or being heard. Positive impacts included support of concentration, relaxation, motivation, freedom of sound expression, feeling of being connected to the surroundings and comforted by the presence of others, according to mechanisms described in the study. Negative appraisal could trigger coping strategies (e.g., controlling windows, playing music, wearing headphones) and behavioural changes (e.g., lowering the volume of the voice or music, muting oneself during call, changing workout type) that could in turn limit or enhance the freedom of behaviour, affect or foster wellbeing. Negative impacts were most frequently reported on WFH (by 55% of the participants), followed by relaxation activities (40.6%), sexual activities (30.1%), and home workout (20.1%). The ideal soundscape was described as a quiet, well-sound insulated environment, which guarantees access to positive sounds (i.e., natural sounds, music, urban background), thus resulting in privacy, intimacy, and a place where to express themselves without noise-related constraints. The study complements literature findings on housing design directions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing further evidence on the impacts of poor sound insulation at home, the potential benefits of nature-based solutions for positive indoor soundscapes, and opportunities for an activity-based design of domestic environments, inclusive of a broader set of home uses and household compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Torresin
- Institute for Renewable Energy – Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Ratcliffe
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Aletta
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rossano Albatici
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Tin Oberman
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jian Kang
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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17
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Arregi A, Lertxundi A, Vegas O, García-Baquero G, Ibarluzea J, Anabitarte A, Barroeta Z, Jimeno-Romero A, Subiza-Pérez M, Lertxundi N. Environmental Noise Exposure and Sleep Habits among Children in a Cohort from Northern Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16321. [PMID: 36498392 PMCID: PMC9738338 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental noise is considered the second most serious environmental risk factor in Europe. However, little evidence exists regarding its impact on health and sleep in children, and the results are inconclusive. In this study, we aim to analyse the effect of environmental noise exposure on 11-year-old children's sleep habits. Data were collected from 377 participants in the INMA-Gipuzkoa (INfancia y Medio Ambiente) cohort project using both parent-reported and actigraphic sleep measures. The results revealed that 60% of children have a day-evening-night environmental noise exposure (Lden) of above 55 dB, which is defined as a "high noise level". No differences in noise exposure were observed between different socioeconomic groups. However, no effect of environmental noise was found on sleep variables. The paper highlights the importance of studying how environmental noise may affect children's sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ane Arregi
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20008 San Sebastian, Spain
- Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Aitana Lertxundi
- Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Oscar Vegas
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20008 San Sebastian, Spain
- Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Gonzalo García-Baquero
- Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesus Ibarluzea
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20008 San Sebastian, Spain
- Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Ministry of Health of the Basque Government, Sub-Directorate for Public Health and Addictions of Gipuzkoa, 20013 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Asier Anabitarte
- Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Ziortza Barroeta
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Alba Jimeno-Romero
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Mikel Subiza-Pérez
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20008 San Sebastian, Spain
- Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK
| | - Nerea Lertxundi
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20008 San Sebastian, Spain
- Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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18
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Lechner C, Kirisits C. The Effect of Land-Use Categories on Traffic Noise Annoyance. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15444. [PMID: 36497515 PMCID: PMC9736418 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315444] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Land-use categories are often used to define the exposure limits of national environmental noise policies. Often different guideline values for noise are applied for purely residential areas versus residential areas with mixed-use. Mixed-use includes living plus limited activities through crafts, commerce, trade, agriculture, and forestry activities. This differentiation especially when rating noise from road, railway, and air traffic might be argued by different expectations and therefore noise annoyance in those two categories while scientific evidence is missing. It should be tested on empirically derived data. Surveys from two studies in the state of Tyrol in urban and rural areas were retrospectively matched with spatial data to analyze the potential different influences on noise effects. Using non-parametric tests, the correlation between land-use category on self-reported noise sensitivity and noise annoyance was investigated. Exposure-response for the two analyzed land-use categories showed no significant impact on noise sensitivity and exposure-response relationships for the three traffic noise sources. Including only noise annoyance, there is not sufficient evidence to define different noise policies for those two land-use categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Lechner
- LMU University Hospital Munich, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Office of the Tyrolean Regional Government, Department for Emission, Safety and Sites, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian Kirisits
- Kirisits Consulting Engineers, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Mamat NI, Amil N, Mohd Hanif MH, Zuknik MH, Norashiddin FA, Jaafar MH. Noise Exposure Assessment at a Secondary School in a City of Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:2547-2561. [PMID: 34520290 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1976735] [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: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Schools are considered sensitive areas to noise pollution. The objective of this study is to ascertain the sound level in schools with respect to different sampling time sessions and sampling points. Five sampling points, consisting of two classrooms (Classroom A and Classroom B), a canteen, a staffroom and a field, were chosen to obtain an overview of the noise level within the whole school in three different time sessions (morning, afternoon and evening), as well as 8-h continuous sampling in both classrooms and the staffroom. The average noise level (LAeq,10min) obtained in this school was found to be in the range of 48.8 dBA to 83.7 dBA, where most of the values exceeded the permissible maximum sound pressure level set by the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE). Classroom B recorded the highest average noise level (LAeq,8h) of 77.9 dBA, which exceeded the maximum value set by the Department of Environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nor Izzati Mamat
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
| | - Norhaniza Amil
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
| | | | - Mark Harris Zuknik
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
| | | | - Mohd Hafiidz Jaafar
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
- National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
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Yu DJ, Yu AP, Bernal JDK, Fong DY, Chan DKC, Cheng CP, Siu PM. Effects of exercise intensity and frequency on improving cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A pilot randomized controlled trial on the minimum physical activity recommendation from WHO. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1021428. [PMID: 36200056 PMCID: PMC9527311 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1021428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The World Health Organization physical activity guidelines recommend adults and older adults to accumulate at least 150–300 min of moderate or 75–150 min of vigorous aerobic-type physical activity weekly for health benefits including improvements of cognitive performance. However, the optimal exercise intensity and frequency for maximizing the cognitive benefits remain unclear. Purpose: We conducted a parallel, assessor-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of different intensities and frequencies of the WHO-recommended minimal volume of aerobic-type physical activity on improving cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Participants were randomly allocated to the stretching exercise control group (CON), once-a-week and thrice-a-week moderate-intensity walking groups (M1 and M3), and once-a-week and thrice-a-week vigorous-intensity walking groups (V1 and V3). Intervention duration was 12 weeks. The primary outcome was global cognitive performance assessed by the Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Secondary outcomes were self-report and objective cognitive performances, mental health, sleep quality, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: Thirty-seven participants completed the study (CON: n = 7, M1: n = 7, M3: n = 7, V1: n = 8, V3: n = 8). Participants in all four walking exercise groups demonstrated significant improvements in global cognitive performance assessed by the Hong Kong version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment after the intervention when compared to CON (p < 0.001). The walking exercise interventions also significantly mitigated the anxiety severity (p < 0.005) and improved the cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.05) of the participants in the walking exercise groups. Conclusion: 150-min moderate- or 75-min vigorous-intensity walking exercise performed once- or thrice-weekly showed similar effects on improving cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with MCI. The 12-week walking exercise interventions also reduced anxiety severity and improved cardiorespiratory fitness of the participants. Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04515563
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny J. Yu
- Division of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Angus P. Yu
- Division of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joshua D. K. Bernal
- Division of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Daniel Y. Fong
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Derwin K. C. Chan
- Department of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education and Human Development, The Education University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Calvin P. Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Parco M. Siu
- Division of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Parco M. Siu,
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21
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Hahad O, Bayo Jimenez MT, Kuntic M, Frenis K, Steven S, Daiber A, Münzel T. Cerebral consequences of environmental noise exposure. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107306. [PMID: 35635962 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Hahad
- Department of Cardiology - Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany.
| | - Maria Teresa Bayo Jimenez
- Department of Cardiology - Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marin Kuntic
- Department of Cardiology - Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Katie Frenis
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sebastian Steven
- Department of Cardiology - Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas Daiber
- Department of Cardiology - Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Münzel
- Department of Cardiology - Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
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22
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Meng L, Zhang Y, Zhang S, Jiang F, Sha L, Lan Y, Huang L. Chronic Noise Exposure and Risk of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:832881. [PMID: 35795699 PMCID: PMC9251202 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.832881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveEvidence is scarce about the effect of noise exposure on the risk of dementia. We conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis, aiming to explore the association between noise exposure and the risk of dementia.MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library to collect studies on chronic noise exposure and the risk of dementia from database inception to September 18, 2021 without language limitations. Two authors independently screened the literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. A dose-response meta-analysis and subgroup analysis were then conducted to detect the association between noise exposure and the risk of dementia by using Stata 14.0 software. This study is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021249243).ResultsA total of 11 studies were eligible for qualitative synthesis, and nine were eligible for quantitative data synthesis. All of them showed moderate to high quality scores in the assessment of risk of bias. We found a positive linear association between the noise increment and dementia risk (R2 = 0.58). When noise exposure increased 57 dB, the RR of dementia was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.21–1.78). From the outcome subgroup of AD, AD and dementia, VaD and NAD, we also found a positive association (R2 = 0.68, 0.68, 0.58, respectively). When noise exposure increased by 25 dB, the RRs were 1.18 (95% CI: 1.14–1.23), 1.19 (95% CI: 1.14–1.23) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.06–1.30), respectively. We found a nonlinear association between the noise increment and dementia risk when only cohort studies were included (R2 = 0.58). When noise exposure increased by 25 dB, the RR of dementia was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.12–1.20). From the subgroup of AD, AD and dementia, VaD and NAD of cohort studies, the regression curve showed a nonlinear positive association (R2 = 0.74, 0.71, 0.43, respectively). When noise exposure increased by 25 dB, the RRs were 1.17 (95% CI: 1.12–1.21), 1.17 (95% CI: 1.12–1.22) and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.99–1.28), respectively.ConclusionBased on the current evidence, exposure to noise may be a specific risk factor for dementia. To better prevent dementia, more rigorously designed studies are needed to explore the etiological mechanism of noise and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghao Meng
- Department of Urology, West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Cochrane China Center, Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Periodical Press and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shushan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Fugui Jiang
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Leihao Sha
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yajia Lan
- Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Huang
- Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Occupational Hazard Assessment, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Huang
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23
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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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24
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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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25
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Collyer C, Bell MF, Christian HE. Associations between the built environment and emotional, social and physical indicators of early child development across high and low socioeconomic neighbourhoods. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 243:113974. [PMID: 35649339 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that the built environment influences early child development. Access to, and the quality of, built environment features vary with the socioeconomic status (SES) of neighbourhoods. It has not yet been established whether the association between built environment features and early child development varies by neighbourhood SES. We sought to identify built environment features associated with neighbourhood-level variations in the early child development domains of physical health and wellbeing, social competence, and emotional maturity, and how these associations differ among high and low SES neighbourhoods where child development patterns follow expected outcomes ("on-diagonal" neighbourhoods) and where child development patterns differ from expected outcomes ("off-diagonal" neighbourhoods). This cross-sectional study analysed data from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) for children residing in 3839 neighbourhoods in the Perth and Peel metropolitan areas of Western Australia. Children's AEDC scores were aggregated at the area-level and merged with Geographic Information Systems derived measures of neighbourhood residential density, parks, walkability, community facilities and public transport. Multivariate logistic regressions modelled the odds of low and high SES neighbourhoods having a higher proportion of children developmentally "on-track" (scores in the 26th to 100th percentile of the AEDC) or "not on-track" (scores in the bottom 25th percentile of the AEDC) for each built environment feature. In high SES neighbourhoods, better development across all three domains was associated with greater residential density and improved access to parks, public transport, learning, childcare and health services. Conversely, in low SES neighbourhoods, greater residential density was associated with better physical, but poorer social and emotional development; increased traffic and street connectivity were associated with poorer physical and emotional development; shorter distances to parks, learning, childcare and health services were associated with poorer physical and emotional development; and more services and public transport stops were associated with poorer emotional development. The mixed findings in low SES neighbourhoods suggest that positive associations with built environment features seen in one domain of early child development may be negative in other domains. The reasons for the mixed findings in low SES neighbourhoods are likely multifactorial and may include parental neighbourhood perceptions, as well as quality and usage of built environment features. These findings can be used to inform state and local governments to establish child-friendly town planning and urban design features. Further research is needed to confirm the interplay between SES, early child development, the built environment and other unmeasured factors to better inform public health policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Collyer
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Address: 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
| | - Megan F Bell
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Address: 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
| | - Hayley E Christian
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Address: 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Address: Perth Children's Hospital, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
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26
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Foraster M, Esnaola M, López-Vicente M, Rivas I, Álvarez-Pedrerol M, Persavento C, Sebastian-Galles N, Pujol J, Dadvand P, Sunyer J. Exposure to road traffic noise and cognitive development in schoolchildren in Barcelona, Spain: A population-based cohort study. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1004001. [PMID: 35653430 PMCID: PMC9162347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Road traffic noise is a prevalent and known health hazard. However, little is known yet about its effect on children's cognition. We aimed to study the association between exposure to road traffic noise and the development of working memory and attention in primary school children, considering school-outdoor and school-indoor annual average noise levels and noise fluctuation characteristics, as well as home-outdoor noise exposure. METHODS AND FINDINGS We followed up a population-based sample of 2,680 children aged 7 to 10 years from 38 schools in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) between January 2012 to March 2013. Children underwent computerised cognitive tests 4 times (n = 10,112), for working memory (2-back task, detectability), complex working memory (3-back task, detectability), and inattentiveness (Attention Network Task, hit reaction time standard error, in milliseconds). Road traffic noise was measured indoors and outdoors at schools, at the start of the school year, using standard protocols to obtain A-weighted equivalent sound pressure levels, i.e., annual average levels scaled to human hearing, for the daytime (daytime LAeq, in dB). We also derived fluctuation indicators out of the measurements (noise intermittency ratio, %; and number of noise events) and obtained individual estimated indoor noise levels (LAeq) correcting for classroom orientation and classroom change between years. Home-outdoor noise exposure at home (Lden, i.e., EU indicator for the 24-hour annual average levels) was estimated using Barcelona's noise map for year 2012, according to the European Noise Directive (2002). We used linear mixed models to evaluate the association between exposure to noise and cognitive development adjusting for age, sex, maternal education, socioeconomical vulnerability index at home, indoor or outdoor traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) for corresponding school models or outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for home models. Child and school were included as nested random effects. The median age (percentile 25, percentile 75) of children in visit 1 was 8.5 (7.8; 9.3) years, 49.9% were girls, and 50% of the schools were public. School-outdoor exposure to road traffic noise was associated with a slower development in working memory (2-back and 3-back) and greater inattentiveness over 1 year in children, both for the average noise level (e.g., ‒4.83 points [95% CI: ‒7.21, ‒2.45], p-value < 0.001, in 2-back detectability per 5 dB in street levels) and noise fluctuation (e.g., ‒4.38 [‒7.08, ‒1.67], p-value = 0.002, per 50 noise events at street level). Individual exposure to the road traffic average noise level in classrooms was only associated with inattentiveness (2.49 ms [0, 4.81], p-value = 0.050, per 5 dB), whereas indoor noise fluctuation was consistently associated with all outcomes. Home-outdoor noise exposure was not associated with the outcomes. Study limitations include a potential lack of generalizability (58% of mothers with university degree in our study versus 50% in the region) and the lack of past noise exposure assessment. CONCLUSIONS We observed that exposure to road traffic noise at school, but not at home, was associated with slower development of working memory, complex working memory, and attention in schoolchildren over 1 year. Associations with noise fluctuation indicators were more evident than with average noise levels in classrooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Foraster
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
- PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Llull (URL), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Mikel Esnaola
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica López-Vicente
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ioar Rivas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Álvarez-Pedrerol
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilia Persavento
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jesus Pujol
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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27
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Does the Macro-Temporal Pattern of Road Traffic Noise Affect Noise Annoyance and Cognitive Performance? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074255. [PMID: 35409937 PMCID: PMC8998917 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074255] [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: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Noise annoyance is usually estimated based on time-averaged noise metrics. However, such metrics ignore other potentially important acoustic characteristics, in particular the macro-temporal pattern of sounds as constituted by quiet periods (noise breaks). Little is known to date about its effect on noise annoyance and cognitive performance, e.g., during work. This study investigated how the macro-temporal pattern of road traffic noise affects short-term noise annoyance and cognitive performance in an attention-based task. In two laboratory experiments, participants worked on the Stroop task, in which performance relies predominantly on attentional functions, while being exposed to different road traffic noise scenarios. These were systematically varied in macro-temporal pattern regarding break duration and distribution (regular, irregular), and played back with moderate LAeq of 42–45 dB(A). Noise annoyance ratings were collected after each scenario. Annoyance was found to vary with the macro-temporal pattern: It decreased with increasing total duration of quiet periods. Further, shorter but more regular breaks were somewhat less annoying than longer but irregular breaks. Since Stroop task performance did not systematically vary with different noise scenarios, differences in annoyance are not moderated by experiencing worsened performance but can be attributed to differences in the macro-temporal pattern of road traffic noise.
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28
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Smith MG, Younes M, Aeschbach D, Elmenhorst EM, Müller U, Basner M. Traffic noise-induced changes in wake-propensity measured with the Odds-Ratio Product (ORP). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150191. [PMID: 34818802 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nocturnal traffic noise can disrupt sleep and impair physical and mental restoration, but classical sleep scoring techniques may not fully capture subtle yet clinically relevant alterations of sleep induced by noise. We used a validated continuous measure of sleep depth and quality based on automatic analysis of physiologic sleep data, termed Wake Propensity (WP), to investigate temporal changes of sleep in response to nocturnal noise events in 3-s epochs. Seventy-two healthy participants (mean age 40.3 years, range 18-71 years, 40 females, 32 males) slept for 11 nights in a laboratory, during which we measured sleep with polysomnography. In 8 nights, participants were exposed to 40, 80 or 120 road, rail and/or aircraft noise events with maximum noise levels of 45-65 dB LAS,max during 8-h sleep opportunities. We analyzed sleep macrostructure and event-related change of WP during noise exposure with linear mixed models. Nocturnal traffic noise led to event-related shifts towards wakefulness and less deep, more unstable sleep (increase in WP relative to pre-noise baseline ranging from +29.5% at 45 dB to +38.3% at 65 dB; type III effect p < 0.0001). Sleep depth decreased dynamically with increasing noise level, peaking when LAS,max was highest. This change in WP was stronger and occurred more quickly for events where the noise onset was more rapid (road and rail) compared to more gradually time-varying noise (aircraft). Sleep depth did not immediately recover to pre-noise WP, leading to decreased sleep stability across the night compared to quiet nights, which was greater with an increasing number of noise events (standardized β = 0.053, p = 0.003). Further, WP was more sensitive to noise than classical arousals. Results demonstrate the usefulness of WP as a measure of the effects of external stimuli on sleep, and show WP is a more sensitive measure of noise-induced sleep disruption than traditional methods of sleep analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Smith
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Magdy Younes
- Sleep Disorders Center, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Daniel Aeschbach
- Department of Sleep and Human Factors Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Elmenhorst
- Department of Sleep and Human Factors Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany; Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Uwe Müller
- Department of Sleep and Human Factors Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mathias Basner
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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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: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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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30
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Raess M, Valeria Maria Brentani A, Flückiger B, Ledebur de Antas de Campos B, Fink G, Röösli M. Association between community noise and children's cognitive and behavioral development: A prospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106961. [PMID: 34739922 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noise exposure has been associated with adverse cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children, but evidence on longitudinal associations between community noise and child development in low- and middle-income countries is rare. We investigated associations between community noise and behavioral and cognitive development in preschool children in São Paulo. METHODS We linked child development data from the São Paulo Western Region Birth Cohort with average (Lden) and night-time (Lnight) community noise exposure at children's home, estimated by means of a land use regression model using various predictors (roads, schools, greenness, residential and informal settlements). Outcomes were the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Regional Project on Child Development Indicators (PRIDI) at 3 years of age and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA) at 6 years of age. We investigated the relationship between noise exposure and development using cross-sectional and longitudinal regression models. RESULTS Data from 3385 children at 3 years of age and 1546 children at 6 years of age were analysed. Mean Lden and Lnight levels were 70.3 dB and 61.2 dB, respectively. In cross-sectional analyses a 10 dB increase of Lden above 70 dB was associated with a 32% increase in the odds of borderline or abnormal SDQ total difficulties score (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04; 1.68) and 0.72 standard deviation (SD) increase in the CBCL total problems z-score (95% CI: 0.55; 0.88). No cross-sectional association was found for cognitive development. In longitudinal analyses, each 10 dB increase was associated with a 0.52 SD increase in behavioral problems (95% CI: 0.28; 0.77) and a 0.27 SD decrease in cognition (95%-CI: 0.55; 0.00). Results for Lnight above 60 dB were similar. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that community noise exposure above Lden of 70 dB and Lnight of 60 dB may impair behavioral and cognitive development of preschool children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Raess
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Benjamin Flückiger
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bartolomeu Ledebur de Antas de Campos
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Günther Fink
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Röösli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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ALAN H, TİRYAKİ ŞEN H, BİLGİN O, POLAT Ş. Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire: Turkish Validity and Reliability Study. İSTANBUL GELIŞIM ÜNIVERSITESI SAĞLIK BILIMLERI DERGISI 2021. [DOI: 10.38079/igusabder.981451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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McCullagh MC, Xu J, Dickson VV, Tan A, Lusk SL. Noise Exposure and Quality of Life Among Nurses. Workplace Health Saf 2021; 70:207-219. [PMID: 34915786 DOI: 10.1177/21650799211044365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between noise exposure, selected health conditions, and well-being among nurses. METHODS A secondary analysis was performed on data obtained from 3,818 U.S. nurses who responded to a survey regarding noise exposure, health conditions, stress, professional quality of life, and workplace support. FINDINGS Those who reported high noise exposure reported more health conditions, higher stress and burnout scores, and lower supportive environments. High noise exposure was significantly associated with lower professional quality of life. CONCLUSION/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE Noise may impact the health and quality of professional life of nurses. Occupational health nurses should advocate for the regular monitoring of nurses' exposure to hazardous noise at work, compare it to OSHA permissible levels, and collaborate with the occupational health team to ensure safe noise levels are maintained. Occupational health nurses should advocate for expanded research on effects of noise on health.
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Wang TC, Chang TY, Tyler RS, Hwang BF, Chen YH, Wu CM, Liu CS, Chen KC, Lin CD, Tsai MH. Association between exposure to road traffic noise and hearing impairment: a case-control study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2021; 19:1483-1489. [PMID: 34900282 PMCID: PMC8617107 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-021-00704-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Noise pollution in urban areas is increasing steadily, and the study of road traffic noises and their effects on the auditory system was rare. This study investigated the potential effects of road traffic noise on auditory systems and hearing. METHODS A case-control study recruited outpatients from the Otolaryngology department. The case group (n = 41) had binaural hearing loss (HL) of standard pure-tone average(PTA) ≥ 25 dB or high frequency PTA ≥ 25 dB, while the control group (n = 39) had binaural hearing level of any frequency < 25 dB. Detailed otologic evaluations were performed. Between-group data were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Case or control group was identified based on the audiogram. RESULTS A total of 80 subjects were recruited, including 41 with hearing impairment and 39 as control. The mean exposure level of road traffic noise was significantly higher in the case group than the control group (p = 0.005). A crude OR of 5.78 showed an increased risk of greater than 70 dB of road traffic noise on hearing impairment and tinnitus (p < 0.001). The aOR of 9.24 (p = 0.002) from a multiple variate analysis suggested that road traffic noise levels greater than 70 dB may have a damaging effect on hearing. Damaging effects on hearing persisted even after adjusting for confounders in the full multivariate model (aOR of 9.24 [95% CI: 2.198-38.869]; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Exposing to road traffic noise greater than 70 dB showed an increased risk of damage to the auditory system. These results might help public health administrators and physicians to develop programs that address the health dangers of noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tang-Chuan Wang
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Yuan Chang
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 91, Xueshi Rd., North Dist, Taichung City, 404394 Taiwan
| | - Richard S. Tyler
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
| | - Bing-Fang Hwang
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 91, Xueshi Rd., North Dist, Taichung City, 404394 Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hung Chen
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Che-Ming Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan
| | - Chiu-Shong Liu
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Kuang-Chao Chen
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Der Lin
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsui Tsai
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Damian-Chavez MM, Ledesma-Coronado PE, Drexel-Romo M, Ibarra-Zarate DI, Alonso-Valerdi LM. How Does Environmental Noise Impact Collaborative Activities at the Main Library of Tecnologico de Monterrey? ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021; 2021:7-10. [PMID: 34891226 DOI: 10.1109/embc46164.2021.9630265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental noise is an important social issue that directly affects the efficiency of the students. The aim of this study is to investigate how environmental noise generated in the library affects the performance at learning commons. For this study, the noise of the library was recorded and sixteen students of Tecnologico de Monterrey, were recruited. They were divided into four groups, and two collaborative activities were undertaken with and without noise. In both scenarios, the performance and the physiological reaction of students were investigated. The results showed that the students had a 4% higher performance in a quiet environment than in a noisy one, in the same way, the heart rate increased by 3.48% and the blink rate by 22.91%. Finally, the neural electrical activity was reduced by at least 3%. The findings of the present study suggest that collaborative work is difficult to undertake in noise scenarios such as learning commons, where no appropriated policies are established and followed. Cognitive performance is lower in noisy than in quiet conditions.
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35
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Environmental noise at library learning commons affects student performance and electrophysiological functioning. Physiol Behav 2021; 241:113563. [PMID: 34464647 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113563] [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: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Environmental noise (EN) refers to unpleasant harmful sounds that deteriorates living conditions. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how EN affects students at learning commons, where EN increases between 70 and 90 dBA, and which levels disturb psycho-physiologically. For this purpose, 16 students of Tecnologico de Monterrey were recruited: nine men and seven women. They were divided into four groups, and were involved in two activities: to solve a puzzle of 300 pieces without and with EN at 75 dBA. In both activities, a summative evaluation based on the level of puzzle completeness, and the electrophysiological monitoring of heart and blink rate, and neural electrical activity were conducted. Results showed that student performance was 4% higher in a quiet room than in learning commons. EN increased heart rate in 3.48%, and blink rate in 22.91%, and neural electrical activity was reduced at least in 3%, regardless of task demands. The findings of the present study suggest that academic work is difficult to undertake in learning commons when EN is above the permissible limit, and what diminishes the performance of students and alters their electrophysiological functioning.
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36
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Mac Domhnaill C, Douglas O, Lyons S, Murphy E, Nolan A. Road traffic noise and cognitive function in older adults: a cross-sectional investigation of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1814. [PMID: 34625043 PMCID: PMC8501545 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11853-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization published updated Environmental Noise Guidelines in 2018. Included are recommended limit values for environmental noise exposure based on systematic reviews for a range of health outcomes, including cognitive impairment. There is emerging evidence in the literature that chronic exposure to road traffic noise may affect cognitive function in older adults, but this relationship is not well established. This study spatially linked nationally representative health microdata from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing to building-level modelled noise data for two cities in the Republic of Ireland. This was used to investigate associations between exposure to road traffic noise and cognitive function in a sample of older adults, independent of a range of socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics, as well as exposure to air pollution. Methods We used the Predictor-LimA Advanced V2019.02 software package to estimate noise originating from road traffic for the cities of Dublin and Cork in Ireland according to the new common noise assessment methodology for the European Union (CNOSSOS-EU). Noise exposure values were calculated for each building and spatially linked with geo-coded TILDA microdata for 1706 individuals aged 54 and over in the two cities. Ordinary least squares linear regression models were estimated for eight standardised cognitive tests including noise exposure as an independent variable, with standard errors clustered at the household level. Models were adjusted for individual sociodemographic, behavioural and environmental characteristics. Results We find some evidence that road traffic noise exposure is negatively associated with executive function, as measured by the Animal Naming Test, among our sample of older adults. This association appears to be accounted for by exposure to air pollution when focusing on a sub-sample. We do not find evidence of an association between noise exposure and memory or processing speed. Conclusions Long term exposure to road traffic noise may be negatively associated with executive function among older adults. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11853-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciarán Mac Domhnaill
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Owen Douglas
- School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Seán Lyons
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Enda Murphy
- School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anne Nolan
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin, Ireland. .,Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. .,The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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Huang L, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Lan Y. Relationship Between Chronic Noise Exposure, Cognitive Impairment, and Degenerative Dementia: Update on the Experimental and Epidemiological Evidence and Prospects for Further Research. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 79:1409-1427. [PMID: 33459723 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Degenerative dementia, of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common form, is characterized by the gradual deterioration of cognitive function. The events that trigger and promote degenerative dementia are not clear, and treatment options are limited. Experimental and epidemiological studies have revealed chronic noise exposure (CNE) as a potential risk factor for cognitive impairment and degenerative dementia. Experimental studies have indicated that long-term exposure to noise might accelerate cognitive dysfunction, amyloid-β deposition, and tau hyperphosphorylation in different brain regions such as the hippocampus and cortex. Epidemiological studies are increasingly examining the possible association between external noise exposure and dementia. In this review, we sought to construct a comprehensive summary of the relationship between CNE, cognitive dysfunction, and degenerative dementia. We also present the limitations of existing evidence as a guide regarding important prospects for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Huang
- Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.,Department of Occupational Hazard Assessment, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Periodical Press and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.,Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Yongwei Wang
- Department of Occupational Hazard Assessment, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Yajia Lan
- Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China
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Hegewald J, Schubert M, Lochmann M, Seidler A. The Burden of Disease Due to Road Traffic Noise in Hesse, Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179337. [PMID: 34501923 PMCID: PMC8431690 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Road-traffic-noise exposition is widespread in Germany and can have harmful health effects. As guidance for informed decision-making, we estimated the environmental burden of disease attributable to road-traffic noise in Hesse, Germany as disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Using detailed road-traffic-noise exposure data provided by the Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment, and Geology (HLNUG), we calculated the DALYs due to road-traffic noise > 40 dB(A) L24h (unweighted average 24 h noise level) and other noise metrics for endpoints with known dose-response functions and evidence in the literature (NORAH-study on disease risks and WHO reviews): cardiovascular disease, depressive disorders, road-traffic annoyance, and sleep disturbance. We calculated the population-attributable fractions (PAF) for road-noise-related cardiovascular disease (hypertensive heart disease, ischemic heart disease, and stroke) and depressive disorders in the population using published relative risk estimates. We multiplied the PAFs with the Hessian proportion of the 2015 WHO DALY estimates for Germany in people aged ≥ 40 years. For high annoyance and high sleep disturbance, we used published dose-response functions to determine the burden for residents of all ages. For Hesse, we found a total of 26,501 DALYs attributable to road-traffic noise or 435 DALY per 100,000 persons for the reference year, 2015. Further, we estimated that a hypothetic uniform road-traffic-noise reduction of 3 dB would prevent 23% of this burden of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Hegewald
- Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (J.H.); (M.S.)
- Institute of Sociology, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology, Thüringer Weg 9, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Melanie Schubert
- Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (J.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Matthias Lochmann
- Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG), Rheingaustraße 186, 65023 Wiesbaden, Germany;
| | - Andreas Seidler
- Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (J.H.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Teixeira LR, Pega F, de Abreu W, de Almeida MS, de Andrade CAF, Azevedo TM, Dzhambov AM, Hu W, Macedo MRV, Martínez-Silveira MS, Sun X, Zhang M, Zhang S, Correa da Silva DT. The prevalence of occupational exposure to noise: A systematic review and meta-analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 154:106380. [PMID: 33875242 PMCID: PMC8204275 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are developing joint estimates of the work-related burden of disease and injury (WHO/ILO Joint Estimates), with contributions from a large network of individual experts. Evidence from mechanistic and human data suggests that occupational exposure to noise may cause cardiovascular disease. In this paper, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of occupational exposure to noise for estimating (if feasible) the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years from cardiovascular disease that are attributable to exposure to this risk factor, for the development of the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates. OBJECTIVES We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse estimates of the prevalence of occupational exposure to noise. DATA SOURCES We searched electronic academic databases for potentially relevant records from published and unpublished studies, including Ovid Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and CISDOC. We also searched electronic grey literature databases, Internet search engines, and organizational websites; hand-searched reference list of previous systematic reviews and included study records; and consulted additional experts. STUDY ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA We included working-age (≥15 years) workers in the formal and informal economies in any WHO Member and/or ILO member State, but excluded children (<15 years) and unpaid domestic workers. We included all study types with an estimate of the prevalence of occupational exposure to noise, categorized into two levels: no (low) occupational exposure to noise (<85dBA) and any (high) occupational exposure to noise (≥85dBA). STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS At least two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts against the eligibility criteria at a first stage and full texts of potentially eligible records at a second stage, followed by extraction of data from qualifying studies. We combined prevalence estimates using random-effect meta-analysis. Two or more review authors assessed the risk of bias and the quality of evidence, using the RoB-SPEO tool and QoE-SPEO approach developed specifically for the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates. RESULTS Sixty-five studies (56 cross-sectional studies and nine cohort studies) met the inclusion criteria, comprising 157,370 participants (15,369 females) across 28 countries and all six WHO regions (Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific). For the main analyses, we prioritized the four included studies that surveyed national probability samples of general populations of workers over the 58 studies of workers in industrial sectors and/or occupations with relatively high occupational exposure to noise. The exposure was generally assessed with dosimetry, sound level meter, or official or company records; in the population-based studies, it was assessed with validated questions. Estimates of the prevalence of occupational exposure to noise are presented for all 65 included studies, by country, sex, 5-year age group, industrial sector, and occupation where feasible. The pooled prevalence of any (high) occupational exposure to noise (≥85dBA) among the general population of workers was 0.17 (95% confidence interval 0.16 to 0.19, 4 studies, 108,256 participants, 38 countries, two WHO regions, I2 98%, low quality of evidence). Subgroup analyses showed that pooled prevalence differed substantially by WHO region, sex, industrial sector, and occupation. CONCLUSIONS Our systematic review and meta-analysis found that occupational exposure to noise is prevalent among general populations of workers. The current body of evidence is, however, of low quality, due to serious concerns for risk of bias and indirectness. Producing estimates of occupational exposure to noise nevertheless appears evidence-based, and the pooled effect estimates presented in this systematic review are suitable as input data for the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates (if feasible). Protocol identifier: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.040 PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018092272.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane R Teixeira
- Workers' Health and Human Ecology Research Center, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Frank Pega
- Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Wagner de Abreu
- Workers' Health and Human Ecology Research Center, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Marcia S de Almeida
- Workers' Health and Human Ecology Research Center, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Carlos A F de Andrade
- Department of Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods in Health, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; School of Medicine, Universidade de Vassouras, Vassouras, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Tatiana M Azevedo
- Workers' State Secretariat of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; State Reference Center in Workers' Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Angel M Dzhambov
- Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Institute for Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria.
| | - Weijiang Hu
- National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Marta R V Macedo
- Workers' Health Coordination, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | | | - Xin Sun
- National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Meibian Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Siyu Zhang
- National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Denise T Correa da Silva
- Workers' Health and Human Ecology Research Center, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Petri D, Licitra G, Vigotti MA, Fredianelli L. Effects of Exposure to Road, Railway, Airport and Recreational Noise on Blood Pressure and Hypertension. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179145. [PMID: 34501735 PMCID: PMC8431620 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Noise is one of the most diffused environmental stressors affecting modern life. As such, the scientific community is committed to studying the main emission and transmission mechanisms aiming at reducing citizens' exposure, but is also actively studying the effects that noise has on health. However, scientific literature lacks data on multiple sources of noise and cardiovascular outcomes. The present cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the impact that different types of noise source (road, railway, airport and recreational) in an urban context have on blood pressure variations and hypertension. 517 citizens of Pisa, Italy, were subjected to a structured questionnaire and five measures of blood pressure in one day. Participants were living in the same building for at least 5 years, were aged from 37 to 72 years old and were exposed to one or more noise sources among air traffic, road traffic, railway and recreational noise. Logistic and multivariate linear regression models have been applied in order to assess the association between exposures and health outcomes. The analyses showed that prevalence of high levels of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is consistent with an increase of 5 dB (A) of night-time noise (β = 0.50 95% CI: 0.18-0.81). Furthermore, increased DBP is also positively associated with more noise sensitive subjects, older than 65 years old, without domestic noise protection, or who never close windows. Among the various noise sources, railway noise was found to be the most associated with DBP (β = 0.68; 95% CI: -1.36, 2.72). The obtained relation between DBP and night-time noise levels reinforces current knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Petri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (D.P.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Gaetano Licitra
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (L.F.)
| | - Maria Angela Vigotti
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (D.P.); (M.A.V.)
- Clinical Physiology Institute, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Fredianelli
- IPool S.r.l., Via Cocchi 7, 56121 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (L.F.)
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van Kamp I, van den Berg F. Health Effects Related to Wind Turbine Sound: An Update. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179133. [PMID: 34501721 PMCID: PMC8430592 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, an update of an earlier narrative review was prepared for the literature published between 2017 and mid-2020 about the effects of wind turbine sound on the health of local residents. Specific attention was hereby given to the health effects of low-frequency sound and infrasound. The Netherlands Institute for Public Health and the Environment and Mundonovo sound research collected the scientific literature on the effect of wind turbines on annoyance, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic effects, as well as mental and cognitive impacts. It also investigated what is known about annoyance from visual aspects of wind turbines and other non-acoustic factors, such as the local decision-making process. From the literature study, annoyance again came forward as the most important consequence of sound: the louder the sound (in dB) of wind turbines, the stronger the annoyance response was. The literature did not show that "low-frequency sound" (sound with a low pitch) results in extra annoyance on top of normal sound. Results of scientific research for other health effects are either not available or inconsistent, and we can conclude that a clear association with wind turbine related sound levels cannot be confirmed. There is evidence that long-term effects are related to the annoyance people experience. These results confirm earlier conclusions. There is increasing evidence that annoyance is lower when people can participate in the siting process. Worries of residents should be addressed in an early stage, by involving them in the process of planning and decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene van Kamp
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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Exploring the Effects of Environmental Factors on the Development of 0-4-Year Old Children in The Netherlands. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18157782. [PMID: 34360070 PMCID: PMC8345559 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution, noise, and green space are important environmental exposures, having been linked to a variety of specific health outcomes. However, there are few studies addressing overall early life development. To assess their effects, associations between developmental milestones for a large population of 0–4-year old children in The Netherlands and environmental exposures were explored. Developmental milestones and background characteristics were provided by Preventive Child Health Care (PCHC) and supplemented with data from Statistics Netherlands. Milestones were summarized and standardized into an aggregate score measuring global development. Four age groups were selected. Environmental exposures were assigned to geocoded addresses using publicly available maps for PM2.5, PM10, PMcoarse, NO2, EC, road traffic noise, and green space. Associations were investigated using single and multiple-exposure logistic regression models. 43,916 PCHC visits by 29,524 children were available. No consistent associations were found for air pollution and road traffic noise. Green space was positively associated in single and multiple-exposure models although it was not significant in all age groups (OR 1.01 (0.95; 1.08) (1 year) to 1.07 (1.01; 1.14) (2 years)). No consistent associations were found between air pollution, road traffic noise, and global child development. A positive association of green space was indicated.
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Space-time characterization of community noise and sound sources in Accra, Ghana. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11113. [PMID: 34045545 PMCID: PMC8160008 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90454-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban noise pollution is an emerging public health concern in growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but the sound environment in SSA cities is understudied. We leveraged a large-scale measurement campaign to characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of measured sound levels and sound sources in Accra, Ghana. We measured sound levels and recorded audio clips at 146 representative locations, involving 7-days (136 locations) and 1-year measurements between 2019 and 2020. We calculated metrics of noise levels and intermittency and analyzed audio recordings using a pre-trained neural network to identify sources. Commercial, business, and industrial areas and areas near major roads had the highest median daily sound levels (LAeq24hr: 69 dBA and 72 dBA) and the lowest percentage of intermittent sound; the vice-versa was found for peri urban areas. Road-transport sounds dominated the overall sound environment but mixtures of other sound sources, including animals, human speech, and outdoor music, dominated in various locations and at different times. Environmental noise levels in Accra exceeded both international and national health-based guidelines. Detailed information on the acoustical environmental quality (including sound levels and types) in Accra may guide environmental policy formulation and evaluation to improve the health of urban residents.
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Liu Y, Oiamo T, Rainham D, Chen H, Hatzopoulou M, Brook JR, Davies H, Goudreau S, Smargiassi A. Integrating random forests and propagation models for high-resolution noise mapping. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 195:110905. [PMID: 33631139 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The adverse effects of long-term exposure to environmental noise on human health are of increasing concern. Noise mapping methods such as spatial interpolation and land use regression cannot capture complex relationships between environmental conditions and noise propagation or attenuation in a three-dimension (3D) built environment. In this study, we developed a hybrid approach by combining a traffic propagation model and random forests (RF) machine learning algorithm to map the total environment noise levels for daily average, daytime, nighttime, and day-evening-nighttime at 30 m × 30 m resolution for the island of Montreal, Canada. The propagation model was used to predict traffic noise surfaces using road traffic flow, 3D building information, and a digital elevation model. The traffic noise estimates were compared with ground-based sound-level measurements at 87 points to extract residuals between total environmental noise and traffic noise. Residuals at these points were fit to RF models with multiple environmental and geographic predictor variables (e.g., vegetation index, population density, brightness of nighttime lights, land use types, and distances to noise contour around the airport, bus stops, and road intersections). Using the sound-level measurements as baseline data, the prediction errors, i.e., mean error, mean absolute error, and root mean squared error of daily average noise levels estimated by our hybrid approach was -0.03 dB(A), 2.67 dB(A), and 3.36 dB(A). Combining deterministic and stochastic models can provide accurate total environmental noise estimates for large geographic areas where sound-level measurements are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Tor Oiamo
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Daniel Rainham
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Hong Chen
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
| | - Marianne Hatzopoulou
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Jeffrey R Brook
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
| | - Hugh Davies
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sophie Goudreau
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; Montreal Department of Public Health, Montreal, QC H2L 1M3, Canada
| | - Audrey Smargiassi
- Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium, Canada; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montréal, QC, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique de l'Université de Montréal (CReSP), Montréal, QC, Canada.
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Li S, Fong DYT, Wong JYH, McPherson B, Lau EYY, Huang L, Ip MSM. Noise sensitivity associated with nonrestorative sleep in Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:643. [PMID: 33794830 PMCID: PMC8017893 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nonrestorative sleep is a common sleep disorder with a prevalence ranging from 1.4 to 35%, and is associated with various psychological and physical health issues. Noise exposure and noise sensitivity have been proposed to contribute to nonrestorative sleep. This study aimed to examine the relationships among noise, noise sensitivity, nonrestorative sleep, and physiological sleep parameters in Chinese adults. Methods A cross-sectional household survey was conducted with randomly selected Chinese adults based on a frame stratified by geographical districts and types of quarters in Hong Kong. We administered a battery of questionnaires, including the Nonrestorative Sleep Scale, the Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale, the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Perceived Stress Scale to assess nonrestorative sleep, noise sensitivity, social support, somatic symptoms and stress, respectively. Anxiety and depression were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale while sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics were assessed with an investigator-developed sheet. Nocturnal noise level and physiological sleep parameters were measured during nighttime for a week by noise dosimetry and actigraphy, respectively. A structured multiphase linear regression was conducted to estimate associations. Results A total of 500 adults (66.4% female) with an average age of 39 years completed this study. Bivariate regressions showed that age, marital status, occupation, family income, season, exercise, cola and soda consumption, social support, somatic symptoms, stress, depression, noise sensitivity, total sleep time, and awakenings were associated with nonrestorative sleep. In the multivariable analysis, family income, season, exercise, social support, somatic symptoms, stress, and depression remained associated with nonrestorative sleep. Specifically, a one-unit increase of noise sensitivity was associated with 0.08 increase in nonrestorative sleep (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01, 0.15, p = 0.023). Nocturnal noise was negatively associated with time in bed (b = − 1.65, 95% CI: − 2.77, − 0.52, p = 0.004), total sleep time (b = − 1.61, 95% CI: − 2.59, − 0.62, p = 0.001), and awakenings (b = − 0.16, 95% CI: − 0.30, − 0.03, p = 0.018), but was not associated with nonrestorative sleep. Conclusions Nonrestorative sleep was predicted by noise sensitivity in addition to family income, season, exercise, social support, somatic symptoms, stress, and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Li
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daniel Yee Tak Fong
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Janet Yuen Ha Wong
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bradley McPherson
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Esther Yuet Ying Lau
- Sleep Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.,Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lixi Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mary Sau Man Ip
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
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Dantoft TM, Nordin S, Andersson L, Petersen MW, Skovbjerg S, Jørgensen T. Multiple chemical sensitivity described in the Danish general population: Cohort characteristics and the importance of screening for functional somatic syndrome comorbidity-The DanFunD study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246461. [PMID: 33626058 PMCID: PMC7904225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterized by widespread symptoms attributed to exposure to airborne chemicals. MCS is categorized as a functional somatic syndrome (FSS), and MCS cases often meet the criteria for other types of FSS, e.g. fibromyalgia. The primary aim was to characterize MCS regarding symptom triggers, symptoms, lifestyle and describe demographics, socioeconomics and lifestyle factors associated with MCS. A secondary aim was to examine the implication of FSS comorbidity. Methods Data were derived from a random sample of the Danish adult population enrolled in the Danish Study of Functional Disorders (DanFunD; n = 9,656). Questionnaire data comprised information used to delimit MCS and four additional types of FSS, as well as data on demographics, socioeconomics and lifestyle. MCS cases (n = 188) was stratified into subgroups; MCS only (n = 109) and MCS with comorbid FSS (n = 73). Information regarding FSS comorbidities were missing for six MCS cases. MCS subgroups and controls without FSS comorbidities (n = 7,791) were compared by means of logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age and sex. Results MCS was associated with female sex, not being in occupation and low social status, but not with age or education. MCS cases reported normal dietary intake and smoking habits and lower alcohol consumption. Additional associations were found between MCS and low rate of cohabitation, sedentarism, daily physically limitations, and poor quality of sleep. However, subgroup analysis revealed that these findings were primarily associated with MCS with comorbid FSS. Conclusions MCS was associated with lower socioeconomic status, physically inactivity and poor quality of sleep. Subgroup analysis revealed that several associations was explained by FSS comorbidity, i.e. MCS cases with no comorbid FSS showed normal rate of cohabitation and did not report physical limitations or difficulties sleeping. Overall, our findings emphasise the importance of screening MCS cases for FSS comorbidity both in epidemiological and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Meinertz Dantoft
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg & Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Capital Region Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Steven Nordin
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Marie Weinreich Petersen
- The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sine Skovbjerg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Danish Center for Mindfulness, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Torben Jørgensen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg & Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Capital Region Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Li S, Fong DYT, Wan SLY, McPherson B, Lau EYY, Huang L, Ip MSM, Wong JYH. A Short Form of the Chinese Version of the Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale through Optimal Test Assembly. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18030879. [PMID: 33498550 PMCID: PMC7908225 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18030879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study developed a short form of the traditional Chinese version of the Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale (WNSS) through optimal test assembly (OTA). A total of 1069 Chinese adults (64.8% female) completed the territory-wide cross-sectional study. We first removed Items 12 and 5 which had negative factor loading and gender-related differential item functioning (DIF), respectively. The optimal length was then determined as the minimal one that reasonably resembled the reliability and validity of the scale without DIF items. OTA identified an 8-item WNSS (WNSS-8) which retained 67.2% of the test information of the original 21-item scale and had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.83. It also showed significant correlations of 0.272 and -0.115 with the neuroticism and extraversion scales of Chinese NEO-Five Factor Inventory, respectively. Adequate model fit of the WNSS-8 was demonstrated by the confirmatory factor analysis. The Chinese WNSS-8 can be used to assess noise sensitivity without compromising reliability and validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Li
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (S.L.); (J.Y.H.W.)
| | - Daniel Yee Tak Fong
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (S.L.); (J.Y.H.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-3917-6645
| | - Sarah Lai Yin Wan
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Bradley McPherson
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Esther Yuet Ying Lau
- Sleep Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
- Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Lixi Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Mary Sau Man Ip
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Janet Yuen Ha Wong
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (S.L.); (J.Y.H.W.)
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Torija AJ, Clark C. A Psychoacoustic Approach to Building Knowledge about Human Response to Noise of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:E682. [PMID: 33466937 PMCID: PMC7830689 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We are on the cusp of a revolution in the aviation sector, driven by the significant progress in electric power and battery technologies, and autonomous systems. Several industry leaders and governmental agencies are currently investigating the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or "drones" as commonly known, for an ever-growing number of applications-from blue light services to parcel delivery and urban mobility. Undoubtedly, the operation of UAVs will lead to noise exposure, which has the potential to become a significant public health issue. This paper first describes the main acoustic and operational characteristics of UAVs, as an unconventional noise source compared to conventional civil aircraft. Gaps in the literature and the regulations on the noise metrics and acceptable noise levels are identified and discussed. The state-of-the-art evidence on human response to aircraft and other environmental noise sources is reviewed and its application for UAVs discussed. A methodological framework is proposed for building psychoacoustic knowledge, to inform systems and operations development to limit the noise impact on communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio J. Torija
- Acoustics Research Centre, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Charlotte Clark
- Ove Arup & Partners, Acoustics, 13 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 6BQ, UK;
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49
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Baudin C, LefÈvre M, Champelovier P, Lambert J, Laumon B, Evrard AS. Self-rated health status in relation to aircraft noise exposure, noise annoyance or noise sensitivity: the results of a cross-sectional study in France. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:116. [PMID: 33423666 PMCID: PMC7798343 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-10138-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noise is a major public health issue because of its negative impacts on health, including annoyance, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular diseases and altered cognitive performance among children. Self-rated health status (SRHS) can be considered as a reliable indicator of quality of life, morbidity and mortality but few studies have considered SRHS in relation to aircraft noise exposure. The present study aims to investigate the association between this exposure and SRHS of people living near airports in France, and to consider the mediating or moderating role of aircraft noise annoyance and noise sensitivity in this association. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 1242 participants older than 18 and living near three major French airports. Information on their SRHS, aircraft noise annoyance, noise sensitivity and demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors was collected during a face-to-face interview performed at home. Outdoor aircraft noise levels were estimated for each participant's home address using noise maps. Logistic regressions with adjustment for potential confounders were used. The moderating and mediating effects of aircraft noise annoyance and noise sensitivity were investigated following Baron and Kenny's recommendations. RESULTS A significant association was shown between aircraft noise levels and a fair/poor SRHS, only in men (OR=1.55, 95%CI 1.01-2.39, for a 10 dB(A)-increase in Lden). This relationship was higher in men highly sensitive to noise (OR=3.26, 95%CI 1.19-8.88, for a 10 dB(A)-increase in Lden). Noise sensitivity was associated with a fair/poor SRHS significantly in women (OR=1.74, 95%CI 1.12-2.68) and at the borderline of significance in men (OR=1.68, 95% CI 0.94-3.00), whereas aircraft noise annoyance was associated with a fair/poor SRHS only in men (OR=1.81, 95%CI 1.00-3.27). CONCLUSION The present study confirms findings in the small number of available studies to date suggesting a positive association between aircraft noise levels and a fair/poor SRHS. These results also support the hypothesis that noise sensitivity would moderate this association. However, a mediating effect of annoyance cannot be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Baudin
- Univ Lyon, Univ Gustave Eiffel, Ifsttar, Univ Lyon 1, Umrestte, UMR T_9405, Bron, France.,Institute for radiological protection and nuclear safety, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marie LefÈvre
- Univ Lyon, Univ Gustave Eiffel, Ifsttar, Univ Lyon 1, Umrestte, UMR T_9405, Bron, France.,Technical agency for information on hospital care, Lyon, France
| | | | - Jacques Lambert
- Univ Gustave Eiffel, Ifsttar, AME-DCM, Bron, France.,Currently retired, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Anne-Sophie Evrard
- Univ Lyon, Univ Gustave Eiffel, Ifsttar, Univ Lyon 1, Umrestte, UMR T_9405, Bron, France.
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50
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Zijlema WL, de Kluizenaar Y, van Kamp I, Hartman CA. Associations between road traffic noise exposure at home and school and ADHD in school-aged children: the TRAILS study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021; 30:155-167. [PMID: 32246274 PMCID: PMC7864841 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-020-01521-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Environmental noise may play a role in the manifestation and severity of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, but evidence is limited. We investigated the cross-sectional associations between residential and school road traffic noise exposure and ADHD symptoms and diagnosis. The sample included n = 1710, 10-12-year-old children from the TRAILS study in The Netherlands. ADHD symptoms were measured using a DSM-IV based subscale from the Child Behavior Checklist. Children with diagnosed ADHD originated from the clinic-referred cohort. Road traffic noise (Lden) was estimated at the residence and school level, by model calculation. Risk ratios for ADHD symptoms and ADHD diagnoses, and regression coefficients for symptom severity were estimated separately and simultaneously for residential and school road traffic noise. Adjusted multinomial models with residential road traffic noise showed that residential noise was not associated with ADHD symptoms, but was associated with lower risks for ADHD diagnosis (RR = 0.93; 95% CI 0.89, 0.97). Similar associations were observed for models including school road traffic noise and models including both exposures. No clear exposure response relationship was observed for associations between residential or school noise and ADHD symptom severity. We found no evidence for a harmful association between road traffic noise and ADHD. Associations between noise and lower risks for ADHD were observed only in referred cases with a confirmed ADHD diagnosis and may be due to residual confounding or selection bias. Future studies should focus on residential and school noise exposure, and study associations with ADHD symptoms and diagnosis over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. L. Zijlema
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), C/Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - I. van Kamp
- RIVM, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - C. A. Hartman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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