V. Medical effects of aircraft noise: Community cardiovascular survey

Summary

Data of a community cardiovascular survey in the area around Schiphol airport (Amsterdam) were related to existing aircraft noise levels.

About 6,000 people (men and women, aged 35–64 years) were screened. Afterwards the participants were divided into two groups: those living in areas with more (NNI > 37) and those living in areas with less (NNI = 20–37) aircraft noise.

It appeared that in areas with more aircraft noise, more people were under medical treatment for heart trouble and hypertension and — especially more women — took cardiovascular drugs. Moreover, in areas with more aircraft noise in more people high blood pressure and pathological heart shape were observed. The discrepancies that were found could not be explained by age, sex, smoking habits, height/weight, and — as far as this could be checked — by socio-economic differences. In areas with more aircraft noise roughly 50% more people had cardiovascular impairment.