A new study from an international team of noise experts has found strong evidence that traffic noise increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
Noise Pollution: A Growing Health Concern
The team, which included researchers from the University of Copenhagen's Institute of Cancer Research (Denmark), the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (USA), and the Department of Cardiology at Mainz University Medical Center (Germany), conducted a review of epidemiological studies.
Their analysis showed that traffic noise, such as from aircraft, trains, and road vehicles, was associated with an increased risk of developing and dying from coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and diabetes.
Nighttime Noise: Disrupting Sleep and Damaging Health
Nighttime traffic noise is particularly harmful as it frequently disrupts sleep and reduces sleep duration, which increases levels of stress hormones and oxidative stress in the blood vessels and brain. These factors can promote vascular dysfunction, inflammation, and hypertension, all of which contribute to cardiovascular disease risk.
Decibel Exposure Linked to Disease
A recent meta-analysis of traffic noise and cardiovascular disease risk, which was incorporated into the current study, showed that for every 10dBA (decibel) increase in traffic noise exposure, there was a 3.2% higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure.
The findings of this study were published in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation Research.
Noise as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
Based on these results, the research team is calling for traffic noise to be recognized as an environmental risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.6 million healthy life years are lost each year in Western Europe due to traffic noise.