Health Consequences of Aircraft Noise; Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, Aug. 4, 2008
Selected Excerpts:
Methods: Selective literature review of epidemiological studies from 2000 to 2007 regarding the illnesses, annoyance, and learning disorders resulting from aircraft noise.
Results: In residential areas, outdoor aircraft noise-induced equivalent noise levels of 60 dB(A) in the daytime and 45 dB(A) at night are associated with an increased incidence of hypertension. There is a dose-response relationship between aircraft noise and the occurrence of arterial hypertension. The prescription frequency of blood pressure-lowering medications is associated dose-dependently with aircraft noise from a level of about 45 dB(A). Around 25% of the population are greatly annoyed by exposure to noise of 55 dB(A) during the daytime. Exposure to 50 dB(A) in the daytime (outside) is associated with relevant learning difficulties in schoolchildren.