[The evaluation of the effects of ambient noise on the residents of the historic center of Valencia].
BACKGROUND
The acoustic contamination in residential areas is a generalized problem to solve it, it is necessary to have an available precise information about its magnitude and effects upon the population.


METHODS
We show the first results of a study on the acoustic contamination in the historical center of Valencia and about its effects upon that district residents. A noise map has been made measuring the daily sound level in 135 points regularly distributed. At the same time, 418 telephone polls among the residents in that district has been carried out.


RESULTS
The noise levels, existing in the studied zone, are very high, it has been obtained an average equivalent sound level (Leq) of 71.6 decibels A (dBA). About a 60% of the surveyed persons declare to be "troubled", because of the noise and one out of four surveyed persons find it difficult to get to sleep for the same reason. Road traffic is the main source of trouble. There has been observed a relation between certain personal characteristics in the surveyed persons and the answers obtained, although it does not reach an statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
In the historical center of Valencia, there exists an important problem of environmental noise and the daily levels exceed clearly the recommended limits. It seems that traffic is the main source of noise probably combined with a deficient urban structure which does not allow a fluid vehicular traffic. The residents in this zone are aware of the problem and a great proportion of them declare to be damaged in a greater or smaller magnitude. Although the sensitivity to noise could be in relation with certain personal factors in the surveyed persons.
Morales Suárez-Varela
M M
MM
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Valencia.
Llopis González
A
A
Cotanda Gutiérrez
P
P
García García
A M
AM
García Rodríguez
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013030:Spain; D013689:Telephone; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Evaluación de los effectos del ruido ambiental sobre los residentes en el centro histórico de Valencia.