Research has shown that noise from airplanes and helicopters flying overhead is far more bothersome to people than noise from other modes of transportation, and a growing body of research suggests that aircraft noise is also contributing to negative health outcomes. One of the latest studies, led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and Oregon State University (OSU) indicates that airplane noise may increase one's risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases, a cluster of conditions such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension. Published in the journal Environment International , the study found that people who were exposed to airplane noise levels at 45 dB or more were more likely to have higher self-reported body mass index (BMI), with the highest BMI measures linked to aircraft noise levels at 55 dB or above.
Airplane noise exposure at 45 dB or above was also associated with having higher BMI in middle to late adulthood from early adulthood. For comparison, the sound of a whisper is 30 dB, a library setting is 40 dB, and a typical conversation at home is 50 dB. BMI is an indicator of general obesity, which can lead to cardiometabolic diseases, as well as a range of other health issues.
The study is the first to explore a connection between aircraft noise exposure and obesity nationwide in the United States; past studies on this subject have focused on European populations, and results have varied. " Prior research has shown that aircraft noise ca.
