Urban Noise and Psychological Distress: A Systematic Review

Nicola Mucci, Veronica Traversini, Chiara Lorini, Simone De Sio, Raymond P. Galea, Guglielmo Bonaccorsi and Giulio Arcangeli
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Nicola Mucci: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Veronica Traversini: Occupational Medicine School, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Chiara Lorini: Department of Health Sciences, Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Simone De Sio: Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Locomotor Apparatus Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 5 Piazzale Aldo Moro, I-00185 Rome, Italy
Raymond P. Galea: Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Guglielmo Bonaccorsi: Department of Health Sciences, Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Giulio Arcangeli: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: Chronic exposure to urban noise is harmful for auditory perception, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and nervous systems, while also causing psychological annoyance. Around 25% of the EU population experience a deterioration in the quality of life due to annoyance and about 5–15% suffer from sleep disorders, with many disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually. This systematic review highlights the main sources of urban noise, the relevant principal clinical disorders and the most effected countries. This review included articles published on the major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus), using a combination of some keywords. The online search yielded 265 references; after selection, the authors have analyzed 54 articles (5 reviews and 49 original articles). From the analysis, among the sources of exposure, we found the majority of items dealing with airports and wind turbines, followed by roads and trains; the main disorders that were investigated in different populations dealt with annoyance and sleep disorders, sometimes associated with cardiovascular symptoms. Regarding countries, studies were published from all over the world with a slight prevalence from Western Europe. Considering these fundamental health consequences, research needs to be extended in such a way as to include new sources of noise and new technologies, to ensure a health promotion system and to reduce the risk of residents being exposed.

Keywords: urban noise; environmental; annoyance; sleep disorders; health disorders; residents; exposure; dose–response (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6621-:d:412193

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