The World Health Organization recently recognized
environmental noise as harmful pollution, with adverse psychosocial and
physiological effects on public health.
A new study of noise pollution in Fulton County, Georgia, suggests that
many residents are exposed to high noise levels that put them at risk of
annoyance or sleep disturbance, which can have serious health
consequences. The research is published
in the October issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
“Our research estimated that the percentage of the overall
populations at risk of high annoyance is 9.5%, and highly disturbed sleep at
2.3%,” says co-investigator James B. Holt, PhD, of the Epidemiology and
Surveillance Branch, Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Atlanta, GA. “Long-term
exposure to noise could increase the risks of heart attack and high blood
pressure. Nighttime noise can reduce sleep
quality and increase morning tiredness and insomnia.”