Two similar studies suggest that aircraft noise can lead to an increased risk to heart disease and stroke.
According to two separate studies performed by researchers from Britain and Harvard School of Public Health and Boston University School of Public Health in the U.S., high levels of aircraft noise, usually heard in busy international airports, are related to increased risk of having heart diseases and strokes.
Researchers from London looked at data related to noise and hospital admissions near the Heathrow Airport. Researchers from the U.S., on another study, looked at data of more that 6 million people living nearby 89 U.S. airports in 2009.
Their analysis revealed that residents nearby the airport and hearing so much aircraft noise showed increased risks of heart diseases, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers from Britain conducted research among 3.6 million residents near Heathrow. They compared the data of hospital admissions and mortality rates related to stroke and heart diseases in 12 places in London and nine more districts to the west of London from 2001 to 2005.
The measurement of aircraft noise was taken from the Civil Aviation Authority records. The researchers also factored in demographic information, air pollution, road traffic noise, smoking, and social deprivation that may affect their calculation.
Their findings also showed increased risks of heart disease, strokes, and cardiovascular diseases. Residents who were exposed to the highest levels of daytime and night time aircraft noise, who accounted for two percent of the study population, were placed at an even higher risk.
In the U.S study, they have studied data of 6 million people aged 65 and above living close to 89 U.S. airports in 2009. They found that residents exposed to at least 10 decibels of noise had a 3.5 percent higher risk to cardiovascular diseases.
Furthermore, those exposed to heightened noise levels, or more than 55 decibels, had the highest possibility of being confined due to heart diseases. This is after they factored in the demographic data, socioeconomic status, air pollution, and proximity to the airport.
Both studies can be viewed in the British Medical Journal.
