Summary A series of human studies was performed in 12 young healthy male subjects to investigate extra-auditory effects of short-term ( 15 min) exposure to aircraft noise ( 84-91 d B(A)), to traffic noise (Leq 83 5 d B(A)), to mental load, and to combined load (noise + mental load) Exposure to noise caused increase of diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate, decrease of pulse pressure and quotient of heart rate/respiratory rate and also decrease of performance in a mental task Aircarft and traffic noise generally induce similar effects, which go into the same direction as induced by mental performance alone Combined exposure induces a stronger (but not additive) effect on diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate than each condition alone There is suggestive evidence that exposure to noise and performance of an information processing task both induce simultaneous increase of sympathic and parasympathic tone.

Summary 12 male Ss were exposed for periods of 15 min to noise from a textile factory ( 98 d B(A)), or mental load (binary choice task) or combined load (noise + mental load) Exposure to industrial noise causes similar effects e g increase of diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate, decrease of pulse pressure, sinus arrhythmia and mental capacity, as induced by exposure to aircraft noise or traffic noise, despite great differences in noise characteristics.

Summary 12 male Ss were exposed for 3 h to aircraft noise (peak value: 89-100 d B(A)) or traffic noise (Leq: 73 2 d B(A)); a mental task had to be carried out for 8 min at the end of each hour Exposure to traffic noise caused decrease of systolic blood pressure, increase of diastolic blood pressure, decrease of pulse pressure, heart rate and quotient of heart rate and respiratory rate and increase of respiratory rate Aircraft noise effects tended to go into the same direction, but were only significant for diastolic blood pressure (increase) and pulse pressure (decrease). Binary choice capacity was impaired only in case of exposure to aircraft noise.In the course of the 3 hours exposure to aircraft noise and also traffic noise there was a further increase of diastolic blood pressure The other parameters were not affected by duration of exposure.These results strongly suggest that long-term exposure to noise is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in daily living and working conditions.