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Road-Traffic Noise: Annoyance, Risk Perception, and Noise Sensitivity in the Finnish Adult Population

Author

Listed:
  • Enembe Oku Okokon

    (Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Anu W. Turunen

    (Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Sari Ung-Lanki

    (Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Anna-Kaisa Vartiainen

    (Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Pekka Tiittanen

    (Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Timo Lanki

    (Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland)

Abstract

Exposure to road-traffic noise commonly engenders annoyance, the extent of which is determined by factors not fully understood. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence and determinants of road-traffic noise annoyance and noise sensitivity in the Finnish adult population, while comparing the perceptions of road-traffic noise to exhausts as environmental health problems. Using a questionnaire that yielded responses from 1112 randomly selected adult Finnish respondents, we estimated road-traffic noise- and exhausts-related perceived exposures, health-risk perceptions, and self-reported annoyance on five-point scales, while noise sensitivity estimates were based on four questions. Determinants of noise annoyance and sensitivity were investigated using multivariate binary logistic regression and linear regression models, respectively. High or extreme noise annoyance was reported by 17% of respondents. Noise sensitivity scores approximated a Gaussian distribution. Road-traffic noise and exhausts were, respectively, considered high or extreme population-health risks by 22% and 27% of respondents. Knowledge of health risks from traffic noise, OR: 2.04 (1.09–3.82) and noise sensitivity, OR: 1.07 (1.00–1.14) were positively associated with annoyance. Knowledge of health risks ( p < 0.045) and positive environmental attitudes ( p < 000) were associated with higher noise sensitivity. Age and sex were associated with annoyance and sensitivity only in bivariate models. A considerable proportion of Finnish adults are highly annoyed by road-traffic noise, and perceive it to be a significant health risk, almost comparable to traffic exhausts. There is no distinct noise-sensitive population subgroup. Knowledge of health risks of road-traffic noise, and attitudinal variables are associated with noise annoyance and sensitivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Enembe Oku Okokon & Anu W. Turunen & Sari Ung-Lanki & Anna-Kaisa Vartiainen & Pekka Tiittanen & Timo Lanki, 2015. "Road-Traffic Noise: Annoyance, Risk Perception, and Noise Sensitivity in the Finnish Adult Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:6:p:5712-5734:d:50125
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Shepherd & David Welch & Kim N. Dirks & Renata Mathews, 2010. "Exploring the Relationship between Noise Sensitivity, Annoyance and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Adults Exposed to Environmental Noise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-16, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Martina S. Ragettli & Sophie Goudreau & Céline Plante & Stéphane Perron & Michel Fournier & Audrey Smargiassi, 2015. "Annoyance from Road Traffic, Trains, Airplanes and from Total Environmental Noise Levels," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Janice Hegewald & Melanie Schubert & Alice Freiberg & Karla Romero Starke & Franziska Augustin & Steffi G. Riedel-Heller & Hajo Zeeb & Andreas Seidler, 2020. "Traffic Noise and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Maite Santurtún & María José García Tárrago & Pablo Fdez-Arroyabe & María T. Zarrabeitia, 2022. "Noise Disturbance and Well-Being in the North of Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Javier Dopico & Beat Schäffer & Mark Brink & Martin Röösli & Danielle Vienneau & Tina Maria Binz & Silvia Tobias & Nicole Bauer & Jean Marc Wunderli, 2023. "How Do Road Traffic Noise and Residential Greenness Correlate with Noise Annoyance and Long-Term Stress? Protocol and Pilot Study for a Large Field Survey with a Cross-Sectional Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Peter Preisendörfer & Heidi Bruderer Enzler & Andreas Diekmann & Jörg Hartmann & Karin Kurz & Ulf Liebe, 2022. "Pathways to Environmental Inequality: How Urban Traffic Noise Annoyance Varies across Socioeconomic Subgroups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Paweł Małecki & Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska & Tadeusz Wszołek & Anna Preis & Maciej Kłaczyński & Adam Dudarewicz & Paweł Pawlik & Bartłomiej Stępień & Dominik Mleczko, 2023. "Does Stochastic and Modulated Wind Turbine Infrasound Affect Human Mental Performance Compared to Steady Signals without Modulation? Results of a Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.
    7. Andrew Mitchell & Mercede Erfanian & Christopher Soelistyo & Tin Oberman & Jian Kang & Robert Aldridge & Jing-Hao Xue & Francesco Aletta, 2022. "Effects of Soundscape Complexity on Urban Noise Annoyance Ratings: A Large-Scale Online Listening Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.

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