Citation

Halonen JI, Vahtera J, Stansfeld S, Yli-Tuomi T, Salo P, Pentti J, Kivimaki M, Lanki T. Environ. Health Perspect. 2012; 120(10): 1391-1396.

Affiliation

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Kuopio/ Turku/ Helsinki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)

DOI

10.1289/ehp.1205026

PMID

22871637

Abstract

Background: Associations between traffic noise and sleep problems have been detected in experimental studies, but population level evidence is scarce. Objectives: To study the relationship between nocturnal traffic noise levels and sleep disturbances, and to identify vulnerable population groups. Methods: Night-time outdoor traffic noise levels were modelled based on the traffic intensities in cities of Helsinki and Vantaa, Finland. In these cities, 7019 public sector employees (81% women) responded to postal surveys on sleep and health; modelled outdoor noise levels were linked to the cohort participants' residences. We used logistic regression models to estimate associations of noise levels with subjectively assessed duration of sleep and insomnia symptoms (i.e. difficulties falling asleep, frequent awakenings during night, too early morning awakenings, non-restorative sleep). We used stratified models to investigate the possibility of vulnerable subgroups. Results: In the total study population, exposure to >55 dB Lnight, outside was associated with any insomnia symptom ≥2 nights per week (odds ratio 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 1.65). Among participants with higher trait anxiety scores, which we hypothesized are a proxy for noise-sensitivity, the odds ratios for any insomnia symptom at 50.1-55 and >55 vs. ≤45 dB Lnight, outside traffic noise exposure were 1.34 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.80) and 1.61 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.42), respectively. Conclusions: Nocturnal traffic noise levels above 50 dB Lnight, outside was associated with insomnia symptoms among persons with higher scores for trait anxiety. In the total study population >55 dB Lnight, outside was positively associated with any symptoms.

Language: en