title: Annoyance and disturbance of daily activities from road traffic noise in Canada.
abstract: This study evaluated road traffic noise annoyance in Canada in relation to activity interference, subject concerns about noise and self-reported distance to a major road. Random digit dialing was employed to survey a representative sample of 2565 Canadians 15 years of age and older. Respondents highly annoyed by traffic noise were significantly more likely to perceive annoyance to negatively impact health, live closer to a heavily traveled road and report that traffic noise often interfered with daily activities. Sex, age, education level, community size and province had statistically significant associations with traffic noise annoyance. High noise annoyance consistently correlated with frequent interference of activities. Reducing noise at night (10 pm-7 am) was more important than during the rest of the day.
authors.affiliation: Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. dmichaud@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McMurchy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D020920:Dyssomnias / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors