[Effect of road traffic noise on sleep. A paired comparison between sleep polygraphic parameters recorded in a noisy apartment along a road with heavy traffic and those recorded in a quiet suburban house].
Effects of road traffic noise on sleep were studied comparing 15 sleep polygraphic parameters and 6 subjective sleep complaints in a noisy apartment with those in a quiet house. Subjects were 8 persons (5 young men aged 19-38, one woman aged 65 and 2 men aged 66) and were studied for 76 nights. The average equivalent sound pressure level (Leq) from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. was 46.67 dB (A) in the noisy apartment's bedroom compared to 27.72 dB(A) in the bedroom of the quiet house. Of the 15 parameters, proportion of REM sleep for the younger subjects was significantly less (p = 0.0046, paired t-test) in the apartment compared to the quiet house. No significant difference was seen in the remaining 14 parameters between the apartment and the house. Of the 6 subjective sleep complaints, "awakened early in the morning," was significantly less for young subjects (p = 0.031, Two-tailed sign test) in the apartment than in the house. There was no significant difference seen for the older subjects in the 6 subjective sleep complaints and 15 sleep polygraphic parameters between the two places. It appears that a small difference in the effect of road traffic noise on sleep between young and old may exist.
Sato
T
T
Department of Public Health, Gunma University School of Medicine.
Ogawa
M
M
Aoki
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001336:Automobiles; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012890:Sleep; D012895:Sleep, REM