WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Effects on Sleep

Abstract

To evaluate the quality of available evidence on the effects of environmental noise exposure on sleep a systematic review was conducted. The databases PSYCINFO, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science and the TNO Repository were searched for non-laboratory studies on the effects of environmental noise on sleep with measured or predicted noise levels and published in or after the year 2000. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE criteria. Seventy four studies predominately conducted between 2000 and 2015 were included in the review. A meta-analysis of surveys linking road, rail, and aircraft noise exposure to self-reports of sleep disturbance was conducted. The odds ratio for the percent highly sleep disturbed for a 10 dB increase in Lnight was significant for aircraft (1.94; 95% CI 1.61–2.3), road (2.13; 95% CI 1.82–2.48), and rail (3.06; 95% CI 2.38–3.93) noise when the question referred to noise, but non-significant for aircraft (1.17; 95% CI 0.54–2.53), road (1.09; 95% CI 0.94–1.27), and rail (1.27; 95% CI 0.89–1.81) noise when the question did not refer to noise. A pooled analysis of polysomnographic studies on the acute effects of transportation noise on sleep was also conducted and the unadjusted odds ratio for the probability of awakening for a 10 dBA increase in the indoor Lmax was significant for aircraft (1.35; 95% CI 1.22–1.50), road (1.36; 95% CI 1.19–1.55), and rail (1.35; 95% CI 1.21–1.52) noise. Due to a limited number of studies and the use of different outcome measures, a narrative review only was conducted for motility, cardiac and blood pressure outcomes, and for children’s sleep. The effect of wind turbine and hospital noise on sleep was also assessed. Based on the available evidence, transportation noise affects objectively measured sleep physiology and subjectively assessed sleep disturbance in adults. For other outcome measures and noise sources the examined evidence was conflicting or only emerging. According to GRADE criteria, the quality of the evidence was moderate for cortical awakenings and self-reported sleep disturbance (for questions that referred to noise) induced by traffic noise, low for motility measures of traffic noise induced sleep disturbance, and very low for all other noise sources and investigated sleep outcomes.

Child and Parent Perceived Determinants of Children’s Inadequate Sleep Health. A Concept Mapping Study

“…The review by Allen et al also showed limited support for adjusting the bedroom light to as dark (i.e., only two studies) and as quiet (i.e., only two studies) as possible for better sleep [17]. In contrast, a recent review of the WHO found evidence for a relationship between ambient noise and inadequate sleep [40]. Furthermore, a previous study (2017) where 11-12 year old multi-ethnic adolescents identified sleep-disturbing household activities, found that disorganization in the home environment such as TV or noise disturbance, family members phone calling, or night-time home visitors, were related to disturbed sleep [41].…”

Nächtliche Verkehrslärmbelästigung in Deutschland: individuelle und regionale Unterschiede in der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie

“…Da die Kategorien 2-5 relativ gering besetzt waren, wurden die Kategorien 2 und 3 zu "etwas/mittel gestört" und die Kategorien 4 und 5 zu "stark/sehr stark gestört" entsprechend einer früheren Studie zusammengefasst [16]. Obwohl in der Frage das Wort "gestört" verwendet wurde, interpretieren wir die Antwort im Sinne einer Lärmbelästigung, da nicht nach konkreten Ereignissen wie Aufwachen oder Einschlafen gefragt wurde, wie es bei der Beurteilung von Störungen üblicherweise der Fall ist [31]. Zudem werden die Begriffe "gestört" und "belästigt" im Deutschen synonym verwendet [32].…”

Design and Dosimetric Analysis of an Exposure Facility for Investigating Possible Effects of 2.45 GHz Wi‐Fi Signals on Human Sleep

“…Possible effects of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on sleep have been investigated in numerous studies in the past. Such studies are of particular interest because human sleep is commonly seen as a sensitive indicator for the impact of various environmental factors on central nervous processes [Basner and McGuire, 2018; Harding et al, 2019]. However, so far RF EMF‐related sleep studies have mainly focused on signals emitted by cellular mobile communication systems, such as the global system for mobile communication in frequency ranges around 900 and 1,800 MHz [Borbely et al, 1999; Huber et al, 2000; Loughran et al, 2005, 2012; Hinrichs et al, 2005; Hung et al, 2007; Regel et al, 2007; Arnetz et al, 2007; Danker‐Hopfe et al, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019; Lowden et al, 2011; Schmid et al, 2012a,b; Lustenberger et al, 2013, 2015], the universal mobile telecommunications system in the frequency range between 1,900 and 2,000 MHz [Danker‐Hopfe et al, 2011, 2016; Nakatani‐Enomoto et al, 2013; Lowden et al, 2019], and the terrestrial trunked radio in the frequency range around 385 MHz [Danker‐Hopfe et al, 2019].…”