title: Saliva cortisol and exposure to aircraft noise in six European countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies show an association between exposure to aircraft or road traffic noise and cardiovascular effects, which may be mediated by a noise-induced release of stress hormones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to assess saliva cortisol concentration in relation to exposure to aircraft noise.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter cross-sectional study, HYENA (Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports), comprising 4,861 persons was carried out in six European countries. In a subgroup of 439 study participants, selected to enhance the contrast in exposure to aircraft noise, saliva cortisol was assessed three times (morning, lunch, and evening) during 1 day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed an elevation of 6.07 nmol/L [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.32-9.81 nmol/L] in morning saliva cortisol level in women exposed to aircraft noise at an average 24-hr sound level (L(Aeq,24h)) > 60 dB, compared with women exposed to L(Aeq,24h) < or = 50 dB, corresponding to an increase of 34%. Employment status appeared to modify the response. We found no association between noise exposure and saliva cortisol levels in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that exposure to aircraft noise increases morning saliva cortisol levels in women, which could be of relevance for noise-related cardiovascular effects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. jenny.selander@ki.se
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selander
authors.forename: Gösta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bluhm
authors.forename: Töres
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Theorell
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pershagen
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Babisch
authors.forename: Ingeburg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Seiffert
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Houthuijs
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Breugelmans
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vigna-Taglianti
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Antoniotti
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Velonakis
authors.forename: Elli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davou
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dudley
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Järup
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000401:Aircraft; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone