Project

Discipline

large nested project SNC; aircraft noise; railway noise; case-crossover study; behaviour; health related quality of life; cognitive function; adolescents; large nested project SNC; transportation noise; cohort study; road traffic noise; cardiovascular mortality

Lead
Strassen-, Bahn-, und Luftverkehrslärm gehören zu den häufigsten Stressoren und Gesundheitsrisiken in unserer Umwelt. Dennoch ist noch wenig bekannt wie wichtig die Expositionsdauer, der Zeitpunkt der Lärmexposition und die Art des Lärms für die Gesundheit der Bevölkerung ist. Auch gibt es noch viele Forschungslücken zu den Auswirkungen bei Jugendlichen.
Lay summary
Die folgenden Forschungsfragen werden angegangen: Wie wichtig sind die Ereignishaftigkeit sowie stille Phasen zwischen Lärmereignissen für die Sterblichkeit wegen Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen bei Erwachsenen sowie die Lebensqualität, das Verhalten und die Gedächtnisleistung von Jugendlichen? An welchen Tages- und Nachtzeiten ist die Lärmexposition besonders kritisch für diese Effekte? Wie relevant ist die Lärmexposition in der Schule versus zuhause für die Lebensqualität, das Verhalten, die Konzentrationsfähigkeit und die Gedächtnisleistung von Jugendlichen? Sind lärminduzierte Risiken für das Herz-Kreislaufsystem reversibel, wenn die Lärmexposition reduziert wird? Falls ja, wie lange dauert es? Können einzelne Lärmereignisse akute kardiovaskuläre Todesfälle auslösen (triggern)? Für dieses Forschungsprojekt werden die Daten der Nationalen Kohortenstudie der gesamten Schweizer Bevölkerung und der HERMES Kohortenstudie mit Jugendlichen genutzt. Mittels nationaler Modelle für Strassen-, Bahn-, und Luftverkehrslärm sowie Luftschadstoffen (NO2) wird die Exposition an jeder Adresse in der Schweiz für 2001 und 2011 abgeschätzt. Bei den Jugendlichen wird untersucht, ob die Veränderung der Lebensqualität, des Verhaltens, der Konzentrationsfähigkeit und der Gedächtnisleistung innerhalb von einem Jahr durch die Lärmexposition am Schul- und am Wohnort beeinflusst wird. Bei Erwachsenen, die nach 2010 gezügelt sind, wird anhand der Nationalen Kohortenstudie geprüft, ob eine damit allfällig verbundene Zu- oder Abnahme der Lärmbelastung das Risiko an Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen zu sterben, verändert. Da die Flugrouten unter anderem wetterbedingt von Tag zu Tag variieren, wird zusätzlich um den Flughafen Zürich untersucht, ob akute kardiovaskuläre Sterbefälle unter den geflogenen Flugrouten häufiger als erwartet auftreten.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 14.06.2017

Lead
Noise from road, railway and aircraft traffic is one of the most widespread sources of environmental stress and discomfort in everyday life. However, previous research has been fragmented, in particular in children and adolescents. As a consequence little is known about the relevance of exposure duration, noise characteristics and the effects in adolescents.
Lay summary
The following research questions will be addressed: How relevant is eventfulness of noise and duration of quiet phases between events for cardiovascular mortality, and adolescents’ cognitive performance, behaviour and quality of life? How crucial is noise exposure at different times during day and night for these outcomes? How relevant is noise exposure at home vs. school for adolescents’ cognitive performance, behaviour and quality of life? Are noise induced cardiovascular risks reversible after noise exposure reduction? If yes, what is the relevant time scale? Do noise events trigger an acute cardiovascular death? Methods: Research will be based on the existing Swiss National Cohort (SNC) and adolescent HERMES cohort study. Nationwide models for road, railway and aircraft traffic noise as well as NO2 exposure at each address in Switzerland for 2001 and 2011 will be individually linked to study participants. For HERMES participants, a longitudinal analysis will be conducted to evaluate the effects of noise exposure at school and home on changes in cognitive function, behaviour and health related quality of life within one year of follow-up. Full residential history available after 2010 for the SNC will be used to elucidate the effects of a sudden change of exposure on cardiovascular mortality. A case-crossover analysis on the triggering effects of aircraft noise on acute coronary events in the population around Zürich airport will be conducted, taking advantage of the daily distribution and variation of noise exposure which is heavily influenced by meteorological conditions.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 14.06.2017

Natural persons

Active participation

Active participation

Self-organised

Communication	Title	Media	Place	Year

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Background: Noise from road, railways and aircraft traffic is one of the most widespread sources of environmental stress and discomfort in everyday life. However, previous research has been fragmented, in particular in children and adolescents. As a consequence little is known about the relevance of exposure duration, noise characteristics and the effects in adolescents. Aims: The overall aim is to obtain a thorough understanding on how transportation noise affects human health. In particular, the following research questions will be addressed:1.From triggering events to chronic exposure effects: Which time scale is most relevant for cardiovascular mortality? Are cardiovascular risks reversible after noise exposure reduction?2.Role of noise characteristics for cardiovascular mortality: How relevant is eventfulness of noise and duration of quiet phases between events? How crucial is noise exposure at different times during day and night (diurnal variation)?3.Effects of noise exposure on adolescents’ cognitive performance, behaviour and quality of life: How relevant is noise exposure at home vs. school? What is the role of sleep on health effects?Methods: Research will be based on the existing Swiss National Cohort (SNC) and adolescent HERMES cohort study. Nationwide models to predict road, railway and aircraft traffic noise and NO2 exposure at each address in Switzerland for 2001 and 2011 will be individually linked to study participants. For HERMES participants, a longitudinal analysis will be conducted to evaluate the effects of noise exposure at school and home on changes in cognitive function, behaviour and health related quality of life within one year of follow-up. Full residential history available after 2010 for the SNC will be used to elucidate the effects of a sudden change of exposure on cardiovascular mortality. A case-crossover analysis on the triggering effects of aircraft noise on acute coronary events will be conducted taking advantage of the daily distribution and variation of noise exposure, which is heavily influenced by meteorological conditions around Zürich airport.Significance: Rigorous scientific methods will be applied to address numerous novel and highly innovative aspects in noise research: i) case-crossover design for acute aircraft noise effects, ii) evaluation of sudden exposure changes due to moving residence or changing flight schemes, iii) focus on noise characteristics in addition to levels, iv) rigorous evaluation of mutual effects of noise and air pollution, v) estimation of indoor noise levels, vi) comprehensive appraisal of effects in adolescents. A better understanding of noise health effects can have far reaching impacts beyond Switzerland and Europe for both science and policy. Future research will profit from the new exposure assessment and analytical methods addressing long and short term exposure windows. The research is highly relevant for prevention of various diseases and contributes to efficient regulation of different types of environmental noise sources beyond transportation noise. Research insights will become even more important in future with growing urbanisation and the on-going trend in the direction of a 24h society.