title: Subjective annoyance caused by environmental noise.
abstract: We developed an acoustic study implemented throughout a neighborhood of Valencia (Spain). Acoustic recordings were made during the months of November and December 1989, on workdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. We also directly interviewed individuals living in this city area to determine their perception of noise and to evaluate the discomfort caused by it in daily life. A personal interview in the form of a questionnaire was employed to poll the neighborhood inhabitants on the magnitude of environmental noise and the distress it caused. The results showed that 40% of those interviewed considered environmental noise to cause considerable distress. On a 1 to 10 scale, over half of those interviewed rated noise in the neighborhood of 5 or higher. Traffic was considered the major source of noise, followed by noise from neighbors and factories. Of those interviewed, 9% changed the location of their bedroom as a result of noise, whereas 11% were forced to sleep with the windows closed for the same reason.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Aparicio-Ramon
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Morales Suarez-Varela
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia Garcia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llopis Gonzalez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruano
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrer Caraco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires