title: Cardiovascular effects of environmental noise exposure.
abstract: The role of noise as an environmental pollutant and its impact on health are being increasingly recognized. Beyond its effects on the auditory system, noise causes annoyance and disturbs sleep, and it impairs cognitive performance. Furthermore, evidence from epidemiologic studies demonstrates that environmental noise is associated with an increased incidence of arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Both observational and experimental studies indicate that in particular night-time noise can cause disruptions of sleep structure, vegetative arousals (e.g. increases of blood pressure and heart rate) and increases in stress hormone levels and oxidative stress, which in turn may result in endothelial dysfunction and arterial hypertension. This review focuses on the cardiovascular consequences of environmental noise exposure and stresses the importance of noise mitigation strategies for public health.
authors.affiliation: II Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Münzel
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Babisch
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basner
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Hypertension; Myocardial infarction; Noise; Pollutants; Sleep; Stroke