Noise annoyance is related to the presence of urban public transport

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2014-05, Vol.481, p.479-487
• Main Authors: PAUNOVIC, Katarina, BELOJEVIC, Goran, JAKOVLJEVIC, Branko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustics; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Exact sciences and technology; Female; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Housing. Living conditions; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Noise annoyance; Noise sensitivity; Noise transport; Noise, Transportation - statistics & numerical data; Noise: its effects and control; Physics; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Stress, Physiological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban Health; Urban Population
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.02.092

The association between noise annoyance and public transport as a source of noise has not been studied previously. The aim was to study noise annoyance in an urban population due to the presence, the type and the number of public transport vehicles, in relation to other acoustical and non-acoustical parameters. The study sample comprised 5861 adults residing in 118 streets in the city center of Belgrade. The presence, the type and the number of public transport vehicles were assessed using official transport maps and matched with residential addresses. Noise annoyance was assessed by a questionnaire including a self-report five-graded scale. ‘High noise annoyance’ was defined by merging ‘very’ and ‘extremely’ annoyed answers. Significant predictors of high noise annoyance were the presence of public transport at daytime (yes vs. no) (odds ratio=1.47, 95% confidence interval=1.28–1.70), and at night (yes vs. no) (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.20–1.61). Residing in the streets with more than 79 public transport vehicles per hour (3rd tercile vs. 1st tercile) predicted high noise annoyance at daytime (OR=1.64, 95% CI=1.18–2.27). Residing in the streets with buses and trams at night (‘bus and tram’ vs. no public transport) increased the risk of high noise annoyance (OR=2.67, 95% CI=1.78–4.09). These associations were independent from noise sensitivity, orientation of bedroom windows, floor level, and equivalent noise levels. Living in the apartment with bedroom windows facing the street was the strongest confounder for the association between noise annoyance, noise levels and public transport. The study has identified the presence of public transport at daytime and at night as a significant and independent predictor of high noise annoyance. Future intervention measures should concern the presence, the type and the number of public transport vehicles in order to reduce noise annoyance reactions in urban areas. •The presence of public transport is a predictor of high noise annoyance.•At daytime, the number of public transport vehicles is related to noise annoyance.•At night, the type of public transport is significantly related to noise annoyance.•The combination of buses and trams at night is the most annoying.•The role of public transport on noise annoyance is independent from noise levels.