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. 2015 May-Jun;17(76):125-33.
doi: 10.4103/1463-1741.155833.

Noise pollution and annoyance: an urban soundscapes study

Karina Mary de Paiva Vianna  1 , Maria Regina Alves Cardoso, Rui Manuel Calejo Rodrigues
Affiliations

Noise pollution and annoyance: an urban soundscapes study

Karina Mary de Paiva Vianna et al. Noise Health. 2015 May-Jun.

Abstract

Since 1972, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared noise as a pollutant. Over the last decades, the quality of the urban environment has attracted the interest of researchers due to the growing urban sprawl, especially in developing countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of noise exposure in six urban soundscapes: Areas with high and low levels of noise in scenarios of leisure, work, and home. Cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in two steps: Evaluation of noise levels, with the development of noise maps, and health related inquiries. 180 individuals were interviewed, being 60 in each scenario, divided into 30 exposed to high level of noise and 30 to low level. Chi-Square test and Ordered Logistic Regression Model (P < 0,005). 70% of the interviewees reported noticing some source of noise in the selected scenarios and it was observed an association between exposure and perception of some source of noise (P < 0.001). 41.7% of the interviewees reported some degree of annoyance, being that this was associated with exposure (P < 0.001). There was also an association between exposure in different scenarios and reports of poor quality of sleep (P < 0.001). In the scenarios of work and home, the chance of reporting annoyance increased when compared with the scenario of leisure. We conclude that the use of this sort of assessment may clarify the relationship between urban noise exposure and health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selected Zones (1 to 6) in the Porto city, Portugal, 2012. Source: Google Maps
Figure 2
Figure 2
Urban soundscape - Leisure - Selected route and their noise map in exposed area: Quinta do Covelo. Porto, Portugal, 2012
Figure 3
Figure 3
Urban soundscape — Leisure — Selected route and their noise map in non-exposed area: Parque da Cidade. Porto, Portugal, 2012
Figure 4
Figure 4
Urban soundscape — Work — Façades of commercial buildings evaluated and their noise map in exposed area, Streets: 31 de janeiro, Sá da Bandeira and Passos Manuel. Porto, Portugal, 2012
Figure 5
Figure 5
Urban soundscape — Work — Façades of commercial buildings evaluated and their noise map in non-exposed area, Santa Catarina Street. Porto, Portugal, 2012
Figure 6
Figure 6
Urban soundscape — Home — Evaluated buildings in the selected housing project in exposed area: Outeiro neighborhood and their noise map. Porto, Portugal, 2012
Figure 7
Figure 7
Urban soundscape — Home — Evaluated buildings in the selected housing project in non-exposed area: Carriçal neighborhood and their noise map. Porto, Portugal, 2012
Figure 8
Figure 8
Annoyance in relation to noise exposure (Lden e Ln). Porto, Portugal, 2012
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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