The Impact of Noise on Health
Abstract
Increasing urbanization, lifestyle changes, and the presence of numerous sounds in the environment have become part of everyday life for urban residents. Studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of environmental noise on fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
This article examines the effects of environmental noise, including road traffic, aircraft, and school-related noise, on children's psychological development, cognitive abilities, and health. Investigating the effects of environmental noise on children's health is particularly challenging because harmful environmental factors affect a rapidly growing, continuously maturing, and developing organism with fewer protective mechanisms. The article reviews scientific research findings on this subject and provides recommendations for clinical practice.
Summary
With rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes, loud noise has become widespread and part of everyday life. Noise pollution has been documented as a serious health hazard, with adverse effects on fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
Environmental noise exposure, including road traffic and aircraft noise, is associated with a range of health outcomes in children. Children are considered particularly vulnerable to the effects of noise. This article presents an analysis of the scientific literature on the subject and discusses recommendations for clinical practice.
Introduction
The multiple effects of environmental noise on children's health are receiving increasing attention. Growing urbanization, lifestyle changes, and the presence of numerous sounds in the environment have become part of everyday life for people living in cities. Studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of environmental noise on fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and adults [1, 2].
However, the effects of environmental noise on children have been studied less extensively. Investigating the impact of environmental noise on children's health is challenging because harmful environmental factors affect an organism that is growing rapidly, continuously maturing, and developing, with fewer protective mechanisms [3].
Noise Measurement
Studies measure average sound pressure levels over a specified period. The unit of measurement is dBA, which represents the A-weighted sound pressure level in decibels.
Measurements are taken during the daytime, usually between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. (a 16-hour period), or at night, between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (an 8-hour period). An additional 10 dB is added to nighttime noise measurements because people are more sensitive to noise at night. It is believed that exposure to noise of a given intensity at night is equivalent to exposure to noise that is 10 dB louder during the day.
Modern geographic information systems are used to assess and model sound exposure in research, whereas earlier studies relied on measurements of sounds generated within communities.
It remains unclear whether measurements of intermittent exposure to high-intensity sounds provide more useful information than measurements of overall noise exposure over a specified period.
The term noise refers to unwanted or unnecessary sounds experienced by a child and is considered an environmental stressor [3].
Effects on Pregnancy
Low birth weight and premature birth have been identified as possible consequences of harmful environmental noise exposure. Research in this field is ongoing, with efforts focused on developing standardized methods for measuring the effects of noise exposure during pregnancy [3].
Effects on the Endocrine System
The effects of noise on children's bodies are thought to be similar to those observed in adults. The mechanism of noise exposure is explained as a stress response involving increased physiological arousal caused by repeated stimulation of the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems [3, 4].
Increased secretion of catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) and cortisol has been observed in response to chronic stress associated with aircraft or road traffic noise exceeding 68 dBA.
A two-year study conducted in Munich among children aged 9–11 years living near a newly constructed airport demonstrated that their stress levels increased significantly after the airport began operating [5].
Effects on Blood Pressure
Studies involving adults have shown that repeated increases in blood pressure associated with environmental noise exposure may have long-term adverse health effects [3, 6].
Studies involving children are more challenging and use different methodologies. Nevertheless, associations have been identified between aircraft noise exposure and increased blood pressure, as well as between road traffic noise and elevated blood pressure, particularly systolic blood pressure [3, 7].
Effects on Irritability and Annoyance
Significantly increased irritability has been observed among children exposed to high levels of aircraft or road traffic noise, both at school and at home [3, 8].
A longitudinal study conducted in South Africa found that aircraft noise exposure was associated with increasing irritability among children over time [9].
Children appear to be less sensitive to traffic noise than adolescents and adults. A study conducted in Germany found that 7.3% of children aged 8–10 years experienced daytime irritability, compared with 16.4% of children aged 11–14 years [10].
This difference may be explained by variations in the daytime activities of children and adults. It is also believed that children and adults respond differently to various sources of environmental noise.
For example, a German study found that noise generated by neighbors and family members caused greater irritability among children than traffic noise.
The study also found that children living in urban agglomerations with populations exceeding 100,000, as well as children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, responded with greater irritability to environmental noise exposure [10].
Effects on Hearing
Environmental noise generated by various forms of transportation does not reach levels high enough to cause hearing damage. However, adolescents and young adults are at risk of hearing impairment when attending nightclubs and rock concerts or listening to loud music through headphones connected to mobile phones or portable music players.
The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging Health Risks notes that, over the past 20–30 years, the proportion of young people exposed to prolonged high levels of recreational noise has tripled, reaching 19%. Approximately 5–10% of people who listen to music through headphones do so at potentially harmful volumes and for excessively long periods [3].
Periodic hearing assessments and monitoring of hearing changes among young people through longitudinal studies have been proposed.
Effects on Sleep
Few scientific studies have investigated this subject [11]. Persistent sleep disturbances in children can cause fatigue, difficulties with attention and task performance, increased sadness and irritability, and reduced frustration tolerance.
A study involving 12-year-old children found that nighttime environmental noise was associated with sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. However, no association was identified between noise exposure and difficulty falling asleep [12].
Effects of Noise on Mental Health
Noise is not thought to have a direct effect on the development of mental disorders in children, such as anxiety disorders or depression. Nevertheless, research has demonstrated that noise acts as a stressor and, over time, disrupts the body's stress response, increases hyperactivity, and negatively affects quality of life and well-being [3, 5, 13].
Effects of Noise on Cognitive Abilities
More than 20 studies have demonstrated that environmental noise, particularly aircraft noise, negatively affects children's memory, reading abilities, academic performance, language comprehension, and problem-solving skills. In some cases, these effects are also associated with lower socioeconomic status and educational disadvantage [3].
Longitudinal studies have shown that learning difficulties associated with noise exposure may improve or disappear entirely once the environmental noise is eliminated.
Persistent difficulties with reading comprehension may lead to secondary consequences, such as learned helplessness, frustration, and problems with attention, communication, and behavior.
Environmental noise negatively affects both children and teachers. Increased irritability may contribute to communication difficulties and behavioral problems in schools [3, 14–17].
Boys [18] and children with early biological risk factors, such as low birth weight or premature birth, are thought to be more sensitive to the effects of noise [19–21].
Students' irritability, learning difficulties, and sleep disturbances may be adversely affected not only by noise at school but also by noise in the home environment.
Possible Interventions
Researchers are investigating effective ways to reduce the adverse effects of environmental noise. Effective sound-insulating materials are being developed for use in noisy home and educational environments [3, 18].
There is also a need to identify solutions and develop targeted physical, educational, and psychological interventions for children exposed to excessive environmental noise [3].
Conclusion
Environmental noise has multiple adverse effects on children's health. Some of these effects, including elevated blood pressure and impaired cognitive and learning functions, may have long-term consequences extending into adulthood and may ultimately influence the entire developmental trajectory.
Pediatric healthcare professionals should consider these potential consequences and, whenever possible, recommend reducing noise levels in children's home and learning environments.
Further long-term scientific research on this subject is needed.
Sigita Lesinskienė
Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University
Rokas Šambaras
Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University
Author contact: [email protected]
Source: Pediatrija, No. 2, 2018.
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