[A field study of health effects of aircraft noise in adults around Komatsu Air Base (1998)].
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the effects of aircraft noise on complaints about life disturbances and on psychological and physical symptoms in adults around Komatsu air base.


METHODS
From April to June 1998, a questionnaire was answered by 203 persons (from 89.8% of families) in 2 areas without aircraft noise, and by 412 persons (from 89.0% of families) in 5 areas with a weighted equivalent continuous perceived noise level (WECPNL) of 75 or more. The questionnaire covered age, gender, work location, noise exposure time, past experience with noisy work and ear disease, complaints about noisiness and life disturbances, and psychological and physical symptoms. Multivariate linear models by JMP (SAS institute Inc.) were applied to analyze the relationships between the above factors including noise level and complaints or symptoms.


RESULTS
Subjects in the areas with noise had more complaints about noisiness than 5 years before, although replies were less in areas without noise. Subjects in areas with a WECPNL of 75 or more had more complaints and symptoms than those in areas without noise. Moreover, subjects experiencing higher noise levels gave higher responses for most of complaints and symptoms. The JMP linear models showed that aircraft noise was positively related to complaints and symptoms after taking the effects of age, gender and past experience with noisy work and ear disease into consideration. Higher noise levels and longer exposure times were related more strongly to most complaints and symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that aircraft noise with a WECPNL of 75 or more is related to various complaints and psychological and physical symptoms in adults around Komatsu air base, after considering the effects of age, gender and past experience with noisy work and ear disease. It also shows that higher noise levels and longer exposure times are related more strongly to many complaints and symptoms. The results also suggest that responses to aircraft noise have become more severe than in the past.
Hattori
M
M
Johoku Hospital.
D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires