title: Individual daytime noise exposure in different microenvironments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous studies showed that chronic noise exposure modeled through noise mapping is associated with adverse health effects. However, knowledge about real individual noise exposure, emitted by several sources, is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explain the variation in individual daytime noise exposure regarding different microenvironments, activities and individual characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a repeated measures study in Augsburg, Germany (March 2007-December 2008), 109 individuals participated in 305 individual noise measurements with a mean duration of 5.5h. Whereabouts and activities were recorded in a diary. One-minute averages of A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure levels (Leq) were determined. We used mixed additive models to elucidate the variation of Leq by diary-based information, baseline characteristics and time-invariant variables like long-term noise exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall noise levels were highly variable (median: 64 dB(A); range: 37-105 dB(A)). Highest noise levels were measured in traffic during bicycling (69 dB(A); 49-97 dB(A)) and lowest while resting at home (54 dB(A); 37-94 dB(A)). Nearly all diary-based information as well as physical activity, sex and age-group had significant influences on individual noise. In an additional analysis restricted to times spent at the residences, long-term noise exposure did not improve the model fit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individual exposures to day-time noise were moderate to high and showed high variations in different microenvironments except when being in traffic. Individual noise levels were greatly determined by personal activities but also seemed to depend on environmental noise levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany. Electronic address: ute.kraus@helmholtz-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breitner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hampel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Environment Science Center, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cyrys
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Geruschkat
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Environment Science Center, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jianwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise
keywords: Activity diary; Epidemiology; Microenvironments; Noise exposure; Personal exposure