Adverse Health Impacts of Air and Road Traffic Noise

Miki Barnes
May 13, 2021

Airport Noise Linked to Increased Use of Anti-Anxiety Medications

The following excerpt is from a column written by Mike Easter for the April 2021 AARP Bulletin.

"In the past few centuries humans have increased the overall loudness of the world eightfold. Today we’ve become so uncomfortable in silence that half of us keep the TV on all the time just to avoid it. The problem is that noise causes our brain to release stress hormones because in our ancient environment, loud noises signaled danger. A study of neighborhoods near airports found that anti-anxiety medication use rises a relative 28 percent for every 10-decibel increase the neighborhood experiences." [Italics Mine]

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At taxpayer subsidized facilities, like the Hillsboro Airport (HIO), the noise is not confined to neighborhoods in the vicinity of HIO because many private and student pilots, without the consent of area residents, repeatedly circle homes within a twenty mile radius of the airport. Just as noise signaled danger to our ancient ancestors, it continues to have the same impact today. The sound of pilots repetitively circling overhead not only increases stress and anxiety but also alerts residents to the fact that they are being subjected to multiple doses of lead, benzene, PM 2.5 and other carcinogenic pollutants that degrade the environment and are damaging to humans, animals, plants and the overall ecology of the planet.

This raises the question as to why the FAA, Port of Portland, State Department of Aviation, and other airport and aircraft owners and operators across this country, in conjunction with the political entities that support them, are intentionally and systematically compromising the health and well-being of local residents.

Environmental Noise Contributes to Cardiovascular Disease

A 2/13/2018 Journal of the American College of Cardiology article entitled "Environmental Noise and the Cardiovascular System" explored the negative health effects of both road and air traffic noise on humans and animals. Their review focused "on the mechanisms and the epidemiology of noise-induced cardiovascular diseases..." According to the researchers,

"The presented evidence further strengthens the concept that transportation noise per se contributes to the development of cardiovascular risk of coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, stroke, and heart failure.

With regard to understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms, a growing body of evidence finds that noise is associated with oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, autonomic imbalance, and metabolic abnormalities, potentiating not only the adverse impact of cardiovascular risk factors, such as arterial hypertension and diabetes, but also contributing to the progression of atherosclerosis and increased susceptibility to cardiovascular events."

Some of their findings are bulleted below.

• Noise annoyance can lead to chronic stress reaction "which may result in manifest adverse health effects."
• "Chronic stress may also generate cardiovascular risk factors on its own, including increased blood pressure, glucose levels, blood viscosity and blood lipids, and activation of blood coagulation" which may lead to cardiovascular disease.
• "...emotional stress induced by nighttime aircraft noise exposure has been associated with stress cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo syndrome), a phenomenon that has been linked to excessive stress hormone release."
• "...high levels of environmental noise have been associated with mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, conditions that are known to adversely affect cardiovascular function."

Closing Remarks

Clearly noise generated by commercial, general aviation, and military aircraft pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of the community. The situation worsens considerably when noise is factored in with the other pernicious toxins released by aircraft – lead, PM 2.5, benzene, nitrous oxide, CO2, carbon monoxide, etc. To protect local residents aviation activity needs to be curtailed to the greatest extent possible. All inessential flights, especially those generated by the international flight training industry, should be terminated. Countries that want to increase their pilot population should do so within their own borders rather than off-loading the noise and pollution onto U.S. residents who are denied a voice in the process.

In addition, business travel should be reduced. The pandemic has well demonstrated that on-line meetings can replace expensive polluting flight activity.

Finally, members of local communities should be fully empowered to determine the pros and cons of locating airports within their borders. In the interest of restoring and honoring democratic values, decrees issued by the FAA and unelected board members of State Departments of Aviation, Port Commissions and other airport owners should be subject to transparent public scrutiny, with the aim of replacing the current system with a fair and equitable arrangement that values the long term health of the planet over the short term profits, crony capitalism and special interests of the few.