Health Impact Assessment of airport noise on people living nearby six Italian airports
Invited paper
Epidemiology Dept SSR Lazio
Monday 1 june, 2015, 15:20 - 15:40
0.4 Brussels (189)
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Auditory effects of noise on humans have been established but aircraft noise
has been associated with several health effects on non auditory system, as
well. During the last decade the rise of low-cost airlines has increased air
traffic thus exposing the population to increased noise levels and potential
disturbances and health disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the exposure levels and evaluate the health impact of aircraft
noise on residents nearby six airports in Italy (Rome: Ciampino; Milan:
Linate and Malpensa; Pisa; Turin; Venice) focusing on hypertension, acute
myocardial infarction (AMI) , annoyance and sleep disturbances.
METHODS
Registry offices of the municipalities involved have provided residential
addresses and personal data of all residents updated to 31/12/2010. Acoustic
fingerprint of each airport to 2011 was estimated using the Integrated Noise
Model. All residence addresses were geocoded and Lden (<55, 55-60, 60-65,
65-70 dB), Lnight, Leq (day and night) were assigned to each participant.
Available exposure-response relationships were used to estimate the number
of additional cases of hypertension, AMI, annoyance and sleep disturbances.
RESULTS
73,272 persons exposed to aircraft noise levels >55dB were considered:
55,915 (76.3%) were exposed to 55-60 dB; 16,562 (22.6%) to 60-65 dB; 795
(1.2%) to 65-70 dB.
Exposure to aircraft noise levels above 55 dB was estimated to be
responsible each year of 4,607 (95%CI 0-9,923) additional cases of
hypertension; 3.4 (95%CI 0-10.7) cases of AMI; 9,789 (95%CI 6,895-11,962)
cases of annoyance; 5,084 (95%CI 1,894-10,509) cases of sleep disturbances.
CONCLUSIONS
A significant impact of airport noise on the health of residents nearby six
Italian airports was estimated. Epidemiological evaluation and noise
mitigation measures to protect the health of residents should be introduced
by policy makers in noise abatement programs.