Airport Noise Linked to Heart Diseases

Staying near airports can increase the chances of heart diseases, a latest research warns.

Scientists at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) examined data collected from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. They studied levels of noise in residential localities near 89 airports.

They also studied the number of people admitted in hospitals for heart diseases in areas that had 45 decibels of noise. Further they observed air pollution levels in the areas. Air pollution is a major contributor to cardiovascular problems.

The experts found that an increase of 10 decibels was linked to 3.5 percent more chances of developing heart diseases such as heart failure, problems in heart beat, ischemic heart diseases or cerebrovascular issues.

"The number of hospitalizations attributable to noise is lower than the number attributable to pollution levels," said the senior author, Francesca Dominici, a professor of biostatistics at the Harvard School of Public Health. "About 6.8 percent of hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease were attributable to fine particulate matter as opposed to 2.3 percent for noise. But that's still a ton of hospitalizations."

"Our study emphasizes that interventions that reduce noise exposures could reduce cardiovascular risks among people living near airports. This can be done through improved aircraft technology and optimized flight paths, by using runways strategically to avoid when possible residential areas when people are sleeping, and by soundproofing of homes and other buildings," said co-author Jonathan Levy, professor of environmental health at BUSPH and adjunct professor of environmental health at HSPH.

Statistics released by World Health Organisation states that heart related problems are the leading cause of death around the globe. In 2008, 17.3 million people died from cardiovascular diseases that accounted for almost 30 percent of all deaths in the world.