| 1. |
- Bodin, Theo, et al.
(författare)
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Survey context and question wording affects self reported annoyance due to road traffic noise: a comparison between two cross-sectional studies.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Environmental health : a global access science source. - 1476-069X. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Surveys are a common way to measure annoyance due to road traffic noise, but the method has some draw-backs. Survey context, question wording and answer alternatives could affect participation and answers and could have implications when comparing studies and/or performing pooled analyses. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in annoyance reporting due to road traffic noise in two types of surveys of which one was introduced broadly and the other with the clearly stated aim of investigating noise and health METHODS: Data was collected from two surveys carried out in the municipality of Malmo, southern Sweden in 2007 and 2008 (n = 2612 and n = 3810). The first survey stated an aim of investigating residential environmental exposure, especially noise and health. The second survey was a broad public health survey stating a broader aim. The two surveys had comparable questions regarding noise annoyance, although one used a 5-point scale and the other a 4-point scale. We used geographic information systems (GIS) to assess the average road and railway noise (LAeq,24h) at the participants' residential address. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios for annoyance in relation to noise exposure. RESULTS: Annoyance at least once a week due to road traffic noise was significantly more prevalent in the survey investigating environment and health compared to the public health survey at levels >45 dB(A), but not at lower exposure levels. However no differences in annoyance were found when comparing the extreme alternatives "never" and "every day". In the study investigating environment and health, "Noise sensitive" persons were more likely to readily respond to the survey and were more annoyed by road traffic noise compared to the other participants in that survey. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in annoyance reporting between the two surveys were mainly due to different scales, suggesting that extreme alternatives are to prefer before dichotomization when comparing results between the two. Although some findings suggested that noise-sensitive individuals were more likely to respond to the survey investigating noise and health, we could not find convincing evidence that contextual differences affected either answers or participation.
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| 2. |
- Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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A full-scale intervention example of the quiet-side concept in a residential area exposed to road traffic noise: Effects on the perceived sound environment and general annoyance
- 2010
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Ingår i: 39th International Congress on Noise Control Engineering 2010, INTER-NOISE 2010; Lisbon; Portugal; 13 June 2010 through 16 June 2010. - 9781617823961 ; 3, s. 2468-2477
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The “quiet side concept” was tested in a full-scale intervention project in a residential area exposed to high sound levels from road traffic. Through new buildings that fill in gaps between buildings facing the highway, a considerable rebuilding of the dwellings and erection of a noise barrier, less noise-exposed courtyards and sides of the dwellings were created, although the definition for a “quiet side” (LAeq,24h <45 dB, free field value) was not reached. A longitudinal questionnaire study was conducted before (2004) and after (2009) the interventions. The results in the after-study 2009 show that noise levels, in general, were reduced with 5-10 dB at the most traffic exposed side and with 4-10 dB at the less noise exposed side (courtyards), general noise annoyance was decreased substantially, and the perceived sound environment indoors and outdoors was improved for three out of five investigated building sites. Although the implemented extensive interventions and the significantly lower noise levels, there were still a majority of the respondents in the residential area that perceived the outdoor environment as dominated by sounds from road traffic.
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| 3. |
- Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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Attractive "quiet" courtyards: A potential modifier of urban residents' responses to road traffic noise?
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - 1660-4601. ; 7:9, s. 3359-3375
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present paper explores the influence of the physical environmental qualities of “quiet” courtyards (degree of naturalness and utilization) on residents’ noise responses. A questionnaire study was conducted in urban residential areas with road-traffic noise exposure between LAeq,24h 58 to 68 dB at the most exposed façade. The dwellings had “quiet” indoor section/s and faced a “quiet” outdoor courtyard (LAeq,24h < 48 dB façade reflex included). Data were collected from 385 residents and four groups were formed based on sound-level categories (58–62 and 63–68 dB) and classification of the “quiet” courtyards into groups with low and high physical environmental quality. At both sound-level categories, the results indicate that access to high-quality “quiet” courtyards is associated with less noise annoyance and noise-disturbed outdoor activities among the residents. Compared to low-quality “quiet” courtyards, high-quality courtyards can function as an attractive restorative environment providing residents with a positive soundscape, opportunities for rest, relaxation and play as well as social relations that potentially reduce the adverse effects of noise. However, access to quietness and a high-quality courtyard can only compensate partly for high sound levels at façades facing the streets, thus, 16% and 29% were still noise annoyed at 58–62 and 63–68 dB, respectively. Implications of the “quiet”-side concept are discussed.
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| 4. |
- Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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Comparative studies on railway and road traffic noise annoyances and the importance of number of trains
- 2011
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Ingår i: 11th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem (ICBEN), 24-28 July, 2011, London, UK.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Railway noise is perceived as less annoying than road traffic noise, both in terms of general annoyance and sleep disturbances according to dose-response relationships from meta-analyses. However, findings in recent years from Japanese studies show, unlike most European studies, that railway noise is perceived as more annoying than road traffic noise at sound levels >LAeq,24h 55 dB. This applies particularly to the Japanese Shinkansen express trains as well as conventional trains. Several of the Japanese studies have been done in areas with a very large number of trains (about 500-800 trains/day). In the present study, the following research questions were asked: How does a large number of trains affect noise annoyance and can the differences between Japanese studies (railway noise more annoying than road traffic noise) and European studies (railway noise less annoying than road traffic noise) in part be due to major differences in the number of trains? Socio-acoustic surveys (n=1689) were conducted in residential areas exposed to railway noise with different number of trains (124 trains/day vs. 481 trains/day) and road traffic noise (LAeq,24h 45-65 dB in all areas) The findings show that the number of trains/day, and not only the equivalent sound levels influence how railway noise is perceived. When the number of trains is very large, (481 trains/day), the proportion who are annoyed and report disturbed activities is significantly higher than in a situation with fewer trains (124 trains/day) at equal sound levels and in comparison to road traffic noise >LAeq,24h 55 dB.
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| 5. |
- Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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Noise reduction by traffic diversion and a tunnel construction: Effects on health and well-being after opening of the Southern Link
- 2013
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Ingår i: Proceedings of Inter-Noise 2013, 15-18 September, Innsbruck, Austria. ; , s. 1-10
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A large problem in urban areas is the increasing traffic causing congestion, noise and air pollution. In some cases, far-reaching interventions can drastically change the situation for the traffic exposed inhabitants. A step change in noise exposure can result in a change effect with an excess response of annoyance to the new exposure over that predicted from exposure-response curves for steady-state conditions. A longitudinal socio-acoustic survey was conducted to investigate changes in health and well-being after opening of Sweden's longest road tunnel – the Southern Link. A total of 658 people responded to a questionnaire both before and after the interventions (493 in the exposure area and 165 in the control area). Noise levels from road traffic in the exposure area ranged between LAeq, 24h 48 dB and 71 dB and noise annoyance was high. After the opening of the Southern Link, noise levels decreased by 3-17 dB in the exposure area and annoyance were reduced from 60 to 20 %. In the control area, limited changes in noise exposure occurred and annoyance was basically unchanged. A comparison with predicted annoyance for a steady-state situation indicated no change effect; however, for groups with a minor and a large change in noise levels, a potential change effect was seen.
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| 6. |
- Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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Railway noise annoyance and the importance of number of trains, ground vibration, and building situational factors
- 2012
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Ingår i: Noise & Health. - : Medknow. - 1463-1741. ; 14:59, s. 190-201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Internationally accepted exposure-response relationships show that railway noise causes less annoyance than road traffic and aircraft noise. Railway transport, both passenger and freight transport, is increasing, and new railway lines are planned for environmental reasons. The combination of more frequent railway traffic and faster and heavier trains will, most probably, lead to more disturbances from railway traffic in the near future. To effectively plan for mitigations against noise and vibration from railway traffic, new studies are needed to obtain a better basis of knowledge. The main objectives of the present study was to investigate how the relationship between noise levels from railway traffic and general annoyance is influenced by (i) number of trains, (ii) the presence of ground borne vibrations, and (iii) building situational factors, such as orientation of balcony/patio and bedroom window. Socio-acoustic field studies were executed in residential areas; (1) with relatively intense railway traffic; (2) with strong vibrations, and; (3) with the most intense railway traffic in the country. Data was obtained for 1695 respondents exposed to sound levels ranging from LAeq,24h 45 to 65 dB. Both number of trains and presence of ground-borne vibrations, and not just the noise level per se, are of relevance for how annoying railway noise is perceived. The results imply that, for the proportion annoyed to be equal, a 5 - 7 dB lower noise level is needed in areas where the railway traffic causes strong ground-borne vibrations and in areas with a very large number of trains. General noise annoyance was twice as high among residents in dwellings with balcony / patio oriented towards the railway and about 1.5 times higher among residents with bedroom windows facing the railway.
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| 7. |
- Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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The effect of creating a quiet side on annoyance and sleep disturbances due to road traffic noise
- 2012
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Ingår i: Proceedings of Inter-Noise 2012, August 19-22 2012, New York, USA.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is growing evidence that having access to a quiet side of a dwelling reduces the harmful effects of road traffic noise on health and wellbeing. One measure to create a quiet side in existing noise-exposed residential areas is to erect shielding buildings that fill existing gaps through which road traffic noise penetrates. Within the EU-financed project QSIDE, we investigated the effect of this type of measure on the acoustical conditions and resident’s noise responses in a socio-acoustic intervention study. Results on sound levels, road traffic noise induced annoyance and sleep disturbances, as well as the perceived sound environment before and after the creation of a quiet side are presented in relation to results from previous similar studies. The implication for guidelines and sustainable goals related to public health, urban noise policy and urban development plans are discussed.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Ögren, Mikael, et al.
(författare)
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Difference between using 2 and 4 meter receiver height in railway noise prediction
- 2010
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Railway Noise, 18-22 October 2010, Nagahama, Japan. - : Springer.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the Nordic countries a receiver height of 2 m has often been used when calculating noise levels over large areas for socioacoustic surveys, but within the EU 4 m is used. Here results are presented for railway noise calculations at both heights in 1459 points across several areas in Sweden. The average difference in equivalent level is 2.5 dB higher at 4 m height than at 2 m, which in turn leads to 10 % – 40 % less predicted annoyance if the exposure is calculated at 4 m.
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