Airports Raise Cardiovascular Disease Risk

A number of previous studies have identified links between aircraft noise and a range of health concerns, including disturbed sleep, sleep-disordered breathing, nervousness, annoyance, and hypertension. Francesca Dominici from the Harvard School of Public Health (Massachusetts, USA), and colleagues analyzed data collected on more than 6 million Medicare beneficiaries living near US airports combined with information on aircraft noise provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration. The team found a significant relationship between increased aircraft noise and cardiovascular hospitalization for heart failure, heart rhythm disturbances, cerebrovascular events, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Noting that the association appeared to be confined to noise levels higher than 55 dB, the study authors warn that: “we found a statistically significant association between exposure to aircraft noise and risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases among older people living near airports.”