Traffic Noise and Cardiovascular Disease: Epidemiological Review and Synthesis

Abstract

Compared to other environmental issues, only a limited number of epidemiological studies is available on the relationship between traffic noise and cardiovascular diseases. The available literature provides no epidemiological evidence of a relationship between noise exposure and mean blood pressure readings in adults. However, noise-related increases in blood pressure are consistently seen in children. As far as hypertension as a clinical outcome is concerned, there is little evidence that exposure to high traffic noise levels is associated with an increased risk. With regard to ischaemic heart disease there is some evidence in the literature of an increased risk in subjects who live in noisy areas with outdoor noise levels of greater than 65-70 dBA.