Vibration and Noise Induced Sleep Disturbance from Freight Trains - An experimental Study

• A substantial increase in transportation of goods on railway networks may be hindered by public fear of annoyance and sleep disturbance due to a corresponding increase in vibration and noise. As the majority of freight trains run during night time, sleep disturbance is expected to be the most serious adverse health effect arising from resulting vibration and noise. However, very little data exists that may be used to investigate the potential impact. As part of the European project Cargovibes, we are experimentally investigating sleep disturbance. An initial pilot study explored the relative perception of horizontal versus vertical vibration for subjects in a supine position and a following study investigated the relationship between various levels of horizontal vibration and sleep disturbance. Sleep was assessed using polysomonography and questionnaires. In total 12 subjects slept for six nights in the sleep laboratory, with one adaptation night, one control night and four nights with a variation of vibration exposures maintaining the same noise exposure. The results will be discussed at the conference.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)