title: Road traffic noise: self-reported noise annoyance versus GIS modelled road traffic noise exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  self-reported road traffic noise annoyance is commonly used in epidemiological studies for assessment of potential health effects. Alternatively, some studies have used geographic information system (GIS) modelled exposure to road traffic noise as an objective parameter. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between noise exposure due to neighbouring road traffic and the noise annoyance of adults, taking other determinants into consideration.
  
  
  METHODS
  parents of 951 Munich children from the two German birth cohorts GINIplus and LISAplus reported their annoyance due to road traffic noise at home. GIS modelled road traffic noise exposure (L(den), maximum within a 50 m buffer) from the noise map of the city of Munich was available for all families. GIS-based calculated distance to the closest major road (≥10,000 vehicles per day) and questionnaire based-information about family income, parental education and the type of the street of residence were explored for their potential influence. An ordered logit regression model was applied. The noise levels (L(den)) and the reported noise annoyance were compared with an established exposure-response function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the correlation between noise annoyance and noise exposure (L(den)) was fair (Spearman correlation r(s) = 0.37). The distance to a major road and the type of street were strong predictors for the noise annoyance. The annoyance modelled by the established exposure-response function and that estimated by the ordered logit model were moderately associated (Pearson's correlation r(p) = 0.50).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  road traffic noise annoyance was associated with GIS modelled neighbouring road traffic noise exposure (L(den)). The distance to a major road and the type of street were additional explanatory factors of the noise annoyance appraisal.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birk
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ivina
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: von Klot
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Babisch
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001336:Automobiles; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057566:Self Report