Systematic review of evidence of the effect of transport noise interventions on human health: Implications for future studies and noise management policy

Abstract

This paper describes a systematic literature review (1980-2014) of evidence of the effects of transport noise interventions on human health. The sources considered are roadways, railways, and air traffic. Health outcomes include sleep disturbance, annoyance, cognitive impairment (of children) and cardiovascular diseases. The interventions incorporate all noise management or control strategies practiced for all sources of transport noise. The categorization and conceptual framework of interventions expands on that described in Brown & van Kamp (Internoise2015). The finding of the systematic review is that the evidence is thinly spread across different sources, outcomes and intervention types. While meta-analysis of the association between changes in level and changes in outcome was not possible, the evidence from the individual studies was that transport noise interventions change the health outcomes reported by those who experience the intervention - statistical evidence is reported in 58% of the studies, or is observable from tables, plots or data in a further 29% of studies. The minimum magnitude of the changes in annoyance outcomes as a result of interventions can be predicted using relevant exposure-response functions, and many studies also exhibit a change effect - an excess response additional to the effect predicted using an ERF.