Transportation noise exposure, noise annoyance and respiratory health in adults: A repeated-measures study. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eze, Ikenna C.; Foraster, Maria; Schaffner, Emmanuel; Vienneau, Danielle; Héritier, Harris; Pieren, Reto; Thiesse, Laurie; Rudzik, Franziska; Rothe, Thomas; Pons, Marco; Bettschart, Robert; Schindler, Christian; Cajochen, Christian; Wunderli, Jean-Marc; Brink, Mark; Röösli, Martin; Probst-Hensch, Nicole
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 121(2018)Part 1
• Page Start: 741
• Page End: 750
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: BMI Body mass index -- CI Confidence interval -- Lden Day-evening-night noise level -- NDVI Normalized difference vegetation index -- NO2 Nitrogen dioxide -- OR Odds ratio -- PM10 Particulate matter with ≤10 µm diameter -- RR Risk ratio -- SAPALDIA Swiss cohort study on air pollution and lung and heart diseases in adults -- SEP Socio-economic position; Noise -- Transportation -- Annoyance -- Signs and symptoms -- Respiratory -- Asthma -- Air pollution -- Cohort studies; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: Transportation noise leads to sleep disturbance and to psychological and physiological sustained stress reactions, which could impact respiratory health. However, epidemiologic evidence on associations of objective transportation noise exposure and also perceived noise annoyance with respiratory morbidity is limited. We investigated independent associations of transportation noise exposure and noise annoyance with prevalent respiratory symptoms and incident asthma in adults. Using 17, 138 observations (from 7049 participants) from three SAPALDIA (Swiss Cohort Study on Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults) surveys, we assessed associations of transportation noise exposure and noise annoyance with prevalent respiratory symptoms, and with incident asthma (in 10, 657 nested observations from 6377 participants). Annual day-evening-night transportation noise comprising road, railway and aircraft Lden (Transportation Lden) was calculated for the most exposed façade of participants' residence using Swiss noise models. Transportation noise annoyance was assessed using an 11-point scale, and participants reported respiratory symptoms and doctor-diagnosed asthma at each survey. We estimated associations with transportation Lden (as well as source-specific Lden) and noise annoyance, independent of air pollution and other potential confounders, using mutually-adjusted mixed logistic and Poisson models and applying random intercepts at the level of the participants. Prevalent respiratory symptoms ranged from 5% (nocturnal dyspnoea) to 23% (regular cough/phlegm). Transportation noise annoyance, but not Lden, was independently associated with respiratory symptoms and current asthma in all participants, with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) ranging between 1.03 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.06) and 1.07 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.11) per 1-point difference in noise annoyance. Both noise annoyance and Lden showed independent associations with asthma symptoms among asthmatics, especially in those reporting adult-onset asthma [ORLden : 1.90 (95% CI: 1.25, 2.89) per 10 dB; p-value of interaction (adult-onset vs. childhood-onset): 0.03; ORnoise annoyance : 1.06 (95%CI: 0.97, 1.16) per 1-point difference; p-value of interaction: 0.06]. No associations were found with incident asthma. Transportation noise level and annoyance contributed to symptom exacerbation in adult asthma. This suggests both psychological and physiological noise reactions on the respiratory system, and could be relevant for asthma care. More studies are needed to better understand the effects of objective and perceived noise in asthma aetiology and overall respiratory health. Highlights: We studied association of noise level and annoyance with adult respiratory morbidity. Noise annoyance was associated with respiratory symptoms and current asthma. Noise level was only associated with respiratory symptoms in asthmatic participants. Noise level and annoyance were not associated with the development of asthma. The results highlight the potential importance of perceived noise and noise annoyance on respiratory health.