Road Traffic Noise and Incident Myocardial Infarction: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

BackgroundBoth road traffic noise and ambient air pollution have been associated with risk for ischemic heart disease, but only few inconsistent studies include both exposures.MethodsIn a population-based cohort of 57 053 people aged 50 to 64 years at enrolment in 1993–1997, we identified 1600 cases of first-ever MI between enrolment and 2006. The mean follow-up time was 9.8 years. Exposure to road traffic noise and air pollution from 1988 to 2006 was estimated for all cohort members from residential address history. Associations between exposure to road traffic noise and incident MI were analysed in a Cox regression model with adjustment for air pollution (NOx) and other potential confounders: age, sex, education, lifestyle confounders, railway and airport noise.ResultsWe found that residential exposure to road traffic noise (Lden) was significantly associated with MI, with an incidence rate ratio IRR of 1.12 per 10 dB for both of the two exposure windows: yearly exposure at the time of diagnosis (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.22) and 5-years time-weighted mean (95% CI: 1.02–1.23) preceding the diagnosis. Visualizing of the results using restricted cubic splines showed a linear dose-response relationship.ConclusionsExposure to long-term residential road traffic noise was associated with a higher risk for MI, in a dose-dependent manner.

Development of an open-source road traffic noise model for exposure assessment

“…Environmental noise exposure is associated with annoyance (Babisch et al, 2013;Clark et al, 2012), sleep disturbance (WHO, 2011), cognitive ability in schoolchildren (Evans and Hygge, 2007;Clark et al, 2013), and health impacts, especially cardiovascular conditions and risk factors (Babisch et al, 2009;Hansell et al, 2013;Sorensen et al, 2012;Stansfeld et al, 2003). Exposure to environmental noise is ubiquitous and increasing in terms of road traffic noise and the reduction of the night-time quiet period (Hammer et al, 2014).…”

Years of life lost and morbidity cases attributable to transportation noise and air pollution: A comparative health risk assessment for Switzerland in 2010

“…Meta-analysis including 13 estimates from 10 studies on effects of road and aircraft transportation noise and IHD (Babisch et al, 1994(Babisch et al, , 1999(Babisch et al, , 2005Beelen et al, 2009;Correia et al, 2013;Gan et al, 2012;Hansell et al, 2013;Huss et al, 2010;Selander et al, 2009;Sørensen et al, 2012) 1.046 (1.015, 1.079) a ICD10 I20-I25. 2011 mortality rates; 283,443 hospital days (BfS) Stroke ≥30 years mortality; all ages morbidity.…”

“…2011 mortality rates; 283,443 hospital days (BfS) Stroke ≥30 years mortality; all ages morbidity. Meta-analysis of 8 estimates from 6 studies on road, aircraft and rail transportation noise and stroke (Beelen et al, 2009;Correia et al, 2013;Gan et al, 2012;Hansell et al, 2013;Huss et al, 2010;Sørensen et al, 2011) mortality rates were changed according to the relevant relative risk (RR) and source-specific exposure contribution, keeping unchanged rates for the remaining outcomes not affected by the exposure. The counterfactual scenario assumed a return to previous exposure levels after 2010, thus mortality rates are only modified in 2010.…”

“…While the negative health impacts from noise were principally linked to annoyance, auditory and other non-auditory health effects (Basner et al, 2013), new studies are finding an association between chronic exposure to transportation related noise and cardiovascular outcomes, such as ischaemic heart disease (IHD), hypertensive diseases and stroke, independent of the effects of air pollution (Sørensen et al, 2011; van Kempen and Babisch, 2012;WHO, 2011).…”

A cloud-based mobile robotic system for environmental monitoring

“…It can significantly lower longevity conversely pollution control and intervention effects have led to improvements in life expectancy, e.g., [16]. While pollution is often associated with contamination by chemical substances, energy type of pollution such as noise, also contributes to acute health issues such as heart diseases [17].…”