The Cost-Effectiveness of Lowering Permissible Noise Levels Around U.S. Airports

Boshen Jiao, Zafar Zafari, Brian Will, Kai Ruggeri, Shukai Li and Peter Muennig
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Boshen Jiao: Global Research Analytics for Population Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Zafar Zafari: Global Research Analytics for Population Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Brian Will: Queens Quiet Skies, Bayside, NY 11360, USA
Kai Ruggeri: Global Research Analytics for Population Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Shukai Li: Global Research Analytics for Population Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Peter Muennig: Global Research Analytics for Population Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-10

Abstract: Aircraft noise increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and mental illness. The allowable limit for sound in the vicinity of an airport is 65 decibels (dB) averaged over a 24-h ‘day and night’ period (DNL) in the United States. We evaluate the trade-off between the cost and the health benefits of changing the regulatory DNL level from 65 dB to 55 dB using a Markov model. The study used LaGuardia Airport (LGA) as a case study. In compliance with 55 dB allowable limit of aircraft noise, sound insulation would be required for residential homes within the 55 dB to 65 dB DNL. A Markov model was built to assess the cost-effectiveness of installing sound insulation. One-way sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulation were conducted to test uncertainty of the model. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of installing sound insulation for residents exposed to airplane noise from LGA was $11,163/QALY gained (95% credible interval: cost-saving and life-saving to $93,054/QALY gained). Changing the regulatory standard for noise exposure around airports from 65 dB to 55 dB comes at a very good value.

Keywords: cost-effectiveness; aircraft noise; regulatory change; sound insulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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