Impact of Aircraft Noise on Health

Abstract

Aircraft noise exposure is an environmental stressor and has been linked to various adverse health outcomes, such as annoyance, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular diseases. Aircraft noise can trigger both psychological (annoyance and disturbance) and physiological stress responses (e.g. activation of the cardiovascular system and release of stress hormones). People are usually able to deal with this kind of stressor. However, a constant exposure to aircraft noise can cause a continuous state of stress. This in turn can constrain a person’s ability to regenerate and restore its resources to cope with the noise situation. As a consequence, the risk for certain negative health outcomes can be increased. Within the ANIMA project, literature reviews on the effects of aircraft noise on health outcomes have been performed. This chapter gives an overview of the relevant health outcomes affected by aircraft noise and summarises the results of different reviews and studies on these outcomes. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms of how noise impacts health are explained for daytime as well as night-time aircraft noise exposure (i.e. while sleeping). Further, the relevance of considering not only the general population, but vulnerable groups as well (such as children and elderly people) is described. Lastly, open questions for further studies are presented and discussed.

Managing Airline Emissions, Noise, and Bird Strikes: Passengers’ Perspectives on Airlines’ Extrinsic and Intrinsic Environmental Practices

“…With technological progress, petroleum-derived materials were used to operate factories and machines, and petroleum materials were also used as fuel for transportation [4]. In the vein of air transportation, several gases are produced due to the combustion of fuel by the aircraft engine, resulting in harm to the environment [6]. Aircraft emissions result from the combustion of aircraft fuel from takeoff to landing.…”

“…This combustion produces a group of gases (carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen [4]) that affect the environment and contribute to climate change. The combustion of the fuel produces gases such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), ozone, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) [6]. It also produces carbon monoxide, which results from incomplete burning of the fuel, and is very toxic to humans, as it combines with the hemoglobin in the blood, producing carboxyhemoglobin (CARBOXY HB).…”

“…Aircraft noise is one of the reasons for the presence of noise at the global level [27], and the noise caused by aircraft affects the environment by causing damage to humans and animals [28]. According to Benz et al [6], Huang et al [28], and Baudin et al [29], the noise emanating from airplanes affects a person in different ways, for instance (a) hearing impairment and (b) insomnia. Hearing impairment is caused when the intensity of noise emanating from aircraft increases more than 90 Decibels for a period related to fatigue of the eardrum.…”

“…Despite the benefits of air travel [1], air travel has the potential to harm the environment, as aircraft release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere [4], contributing to climate change and global warming [5]. Aircraft also causes noise pollution, which can devastate nearby communities and destroy wildlife habitats [6] due to bird strikes [7]. Furthermore, planes use much fuel, which can, if not adequately controlled, lead to air pollution [5].…”