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- Skånberg, Annbritt, 1953, et al.
(author)
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Sleep disturbances from road traffic noise: A comparison between laboratory and field settings
- 2006
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In: Journal of Sound and Vibration. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-460X. ; 290:1/2, s. 3-16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate whether there were any differences in the effects of noise on sleep between studies performed in the laboratory and in field settings with equal road traffic noise exposure. Fourteen subjects, living along a street with a relatively high load of road traffic and with bedroom windows facing the street, slept four nights at home and four nights in a sleep laboratory, where they were exposed to played back “home road traffic noise”. Effects on sleep were evaluated by questionnaires and wrist-actigraphy. No significant differences in sleep quality were found between home and laboratory conditions on variables assessed either by questionnaires or wrist-actigraphy. It was concluded that laboratory experiments do not exaggerate the effects of road traffic noise on sleep, provided that sleep is studied with the same methods and that a homelike environment is created in the laboratory.
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| 2. |
- Öhrström, Evy, 1946, et al.
(author)
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Annoyance and activity disturbances caused by road traffic noise - field studies on the influence of access to quietness.
- 2004
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In: The 33rd International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering, Prag, Czech Republic, August 22-25, 7 pages.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Socio-acoustic surveys were carried out to assess health effects of various soundscapes in residential areas. The study was designed to test the hypothesis that having access to a quiet side of the dwelling enhances recovery and decreases annoyance and other adverse health effects related to noise. The dwellings in the different study sites chosen were exposed to sound levels from road traffic noise ranging from about LAeq,24h 45 dB to 68 dB at the most exposed side. The study involved 956 individuals aged 18 to 75 years. Half of them lived in dwellings with access to a quieter side and the other half had similar sound levels at the most exposed side but had no access to a quiet side. The results give clear evidence of health benefits of having access to a shielded, quieter section of the dwelling. Percentage annoyed respondents for sound levels of LAeq,24h 53-57 dB was lower (11 versus 22 %) if people had access to a shielded, quieter side of the dwelling. For sound levels of LAeq,24h 63-68 dB, the difference in annoyance was larger (38 versus 57 %) among those who had access to a quieter side. Disturbance of daytime restoration was the most pronounced daytime disturbance next to annoyance and possibilities to open the windows.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Öhrström, Evy, 1946, et al.
(author)
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Effects of road traffic noise and the benefit of access to quietness
- 2006
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In: Journal of Sound and Vibration. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-460X. ; 295:1-2, s. 40-59
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Socio–acoustic surveys were carried out as part of the Soundscape Support to Health research programme to assess the health effects of various soundscapes in residential areas. The study was designed to test whether having access to a quiet side of one's dwelling enhances opportunities for relaxation and reduces noise annoyance and other adverse health effects related to noise. The dwellings chosen were exposed to sound levels from road traffic ranging from about at the most-exposed side. The study involved 956 individuals aged 18–75 years. The results demonstrate that access to quiet indoor and outdoor sections of one's dwelling supports health; it produces a lower degree and extent of annoyance and disturbed daytime relaxation, improves sleep and contributes to physiological and psychological well-being. Having access to a quiet side of one's dwelling reduces disturbances by an average of 30–50% for the various critical effects, and corresponds to a reduction in sound levels of (LAeq,24h) 5 dB at the most-exposed side. To protect most people (80%) from annoyance and other adverse effects, sound levels from road traffic should not exceed (LAeq,24h) 60 dB at the most-exposed side, even if there is access to a quiet side of one's dwelling (LAeq,24h45 dB
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| 5. |
- Öhrström, Evy, 1946, et al.
(author)
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Effects of simultaneous exposure to noise from road- and railway traffic
- 2005
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In: Proceedings from Inter Noise 2005, Rio de Janeiro 6-10 August, 2005. Paper no 1570, 10 pages.. ; Available on CD
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Environmental noise, in particular road traffic noise, is a growing and well recognized environmental health problem. However, when noise from road traffic occurs simultaneously with noise from other sources, only limited knowledge exists of the effects on health. A socio-acoustic survey was conducted in residential areas in Lerum, a community east of Gothenburg, Sweden. Noise exposure was calculated for railway and road traffic separately and for the total noise exposure from both sources. The survey was conducted in areas with sound levels ranging from LAeq, 24h 45 dB - 72 dB for both road traffic and railway noise. A sample of 2905 persons aged 18 -75 years was selected. The response rate was 71 % (1953 persons). The objectives were to assess various adverse health effects and to clarify the possible impact of exposure to two noise sources. Preliminary results show that road traffic noise caused a somewhat lower extent of annoyance as compared to railway noise. In areas exposed to high sound levels both from road traffic and railway noise, there seemed to be an interaction effect for noise annoyance. This effect appeared at sound levels above LAeq,24h 55 dB. For both noise sources, the most common adverse effects were disturbances on sleep and relaxation during day time and for railway noise, disturbance of communication.
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| 10. |
- Öhrström, Evy, 1946, et al.
(author)
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Relationships between annoyance and exposure to single and combined noise from railway and road traffic.
- 2007
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In: Inter Noise 2007, Istanbul 28-31 August. ; Paper no IN07_242:Available on CD
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Environmental noise from traffic is a growing health problem. In many cases people are exposed to several types of noise sources at a time, e.g. road, railway, or aircraft noise, but the knowledge is limited of how combined noise sources affects annoyance. A socio-acoustic survey (n=1 953) was conducted in residential areas exposed to railway and road traffic noise ranging from LAeq,24h 45 - 72 dB (Lden 49 - 79 dB). The proportion annoyed by railway noise was higher in situations with simultaneous and equal exposure to road traffic noise than in situations with only railway noise, and corresponding results were found for annoyance due to road traffic noise. In areas exposed to both railway and road traffic, the proportion annoyed by the total traffic sound environment (total annoyance) was significantly higher than in areas with one dominant noise source (rail or road traffic) with the same total sound exposure (LAeq,24h,tot). This interaction effect was significant from 59 dB and increased gradually with higher sound levels. The main conclusion is that the effects of the total sound exposure, and not only the effects of single sources, should be considered in risk assessments and in noise mitigation activities.
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