The impact of aircraft noise on the health of population living near six Italian airports.

Background: Aircraft noise has been associated with several health effects. Because of the great success of low cost flights, small airports have been turned into international airports thus exposing nearby residents to an increase in noise levels and potential disturbances and health disorders. Objective: to estimate the exposure levels and evaluate the health impact of aircraft noise on residents nearby six airports in Italy (Rome-Ciampino; Milan- Linate and Malpensa; Pisa, Turin, Venice) focusing on hypertension, annoyance, and high sleep disturbance (HSD). Methods: residents in the local municipalities at 31/12/2010 were enrolled in the study and their addresses were geocoded.Aircraft noise exposure in 2010 were defined using the Integrated Noise Model linked to each participant’s address. Lden (<55, 55-59, 60-64, 65-70, 70-75 dB), Lnight, Leq (day and night) were calculated. We used previously developed concentration-response functions (Methodological guidance for estimating the burden of disease from environmental noise WHO 2012) to estimate the number of attributable cases of hypertension, annoyance and HSD in the local population. For hypertension we considered only residents aged 40+. Results: 687.147 persons were recruited, 125.621 (18.3%) of whom exposed to aircraft noise levels >55dB. There were 101.528 (14.8%) subjects exposed to 55-60 dB, 22.016 (3.2%) to 60-65 dB, 1.890 (0.28%) to 65-70 dB, and 188 (0.03%) to 70-75 dB. We estimated that exposure to aircraft noise levels above 55 dB were responsible each year of 1.577 (1.25%) additional cases of hypertension, 11.572 (9.21%) additional case of annoyance, and 10.101 (8.04%) additonal cases of HSD. Conclusions: Low cost flights are certainly good for travellers but the effects of aircraft noise on residents near airports are far from negligible. The Italian SERA study is providing indications on potential health effects from aircraft noise.