ETC HE Report 2023/11: Environmental noise health risk assessment: methodology for assessing health risks using data reported under the Environmental Noise Directive

The aim of this report is to critically evaluate methods to assess the health risk of environmental noise for Europe and propose adaptations to the previously used methodology where necessary. Part I presents a refined methods for noise exposure assessment in Europe. Part 2 presents up-to-date exposure-response associations from an Umbrella+ review. High certainty evidence was found for effects of transportation noise on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Additional, evidence is emerging for effects on depression, dementia, overweight, cognitive impairments in adults and children and behavioural problems in children. The new body of evidence shows negative effects due to transport noise at lower levels (Lden=45 dB) than those captured in the European Environmental Noise Directive. In Part 3, proposals for disability weights and quantifying economic costs of health risks are made. The proposed changes of the health risk assessment methods reflect recent progress in noise research.

Publication date: 24 Jul 2024

Authors: Nicole Engelmann (Swiss TPH), Núria Blanes Guàrdia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), Jaume Fons Esteve (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), Danielle Vienneau (Swiss TPH), Martin Röösli (Swiss TPH), Eulalia Peris (EEA)

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