Scientists are finding that noise pollution from traffic is bad for health. New research shows that one night of sleeping with mild road traffic noise can affect the heart and circulatory system.
A new study about traffic noise
Researchers in Germany created different situations in the bedrooms of 74 participants.
Some nights had no extra noise. On other nights, road traffic noise was played over speakers. The sound level was 41 to 44 decibels. This is like a quiet conversation.
The next morning, scientists checked participants’ cardiovascular values and tested blood samples for inflammatory proteins. They also checked how much the blood vessels expanded and contracted with each heartbeat.
In general, scientists saw changes after only one night with traffic noise. These included higher heart rates, changes in proteins and less vascular elasticity. The latter is an early warning sign for the health of blood vessels.
This study was published last month in the journal Cardiovascular Research.
Research has long pointed to how environmental noise hurts your health. According to the World Health Organization, it is a leading environmental risk for physical and mental health.
Noise protection is needed
The study’s authors argued for more noise protection. This could include zones where traffic must drive slowly. Cities could also add green spaces to protect people from noise.
“Noise protection is vascular protection,” said the study leader, Thomas Munzel.
“Every decibel of reduction means less stress on vessels, less inflammation in the blood and, in the long term, fewer heart attacks and strokes.”
Christoph Maack of University Hospital Wurzburg in Germany called it a well-conducted study on a key topic.
He said studies showed that noise could strain the cardiovascular system. He thinks measures to reduce noise are sensible.
What happens if I am often around loud sounds?
Check our graphic below to see how loud common sounds can be.
Noise at or above 85 decibels is harmful to our hearing. Spending more than eight hours around noise above 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss. As the noise gets louder, the amount of time it takes to damage your ears becomes even shorter.
You are in a place that is too loud if ...
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you have to shout so other people can hear you.
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you cannot hear someone speaking to you from one metre away.
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sounds seem quiet after you leave a noisy area.
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your ears hurt or you hear a ringing sound for a few days after being in a loud place.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has advice for protecting your hearing and health. Choose quieter hair dryers and other appliances. Set the audio on your phone, laptop and television to no more than half volume. In noisy settings, wear earmuffs or earplugs.
