Influence of Transportation Noise and Noise Sensitivity on Annoyance: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea.
Environmental noise is known to cause noise annoyance. Since noise annoyance is a subjective indicator, other mediators-such as noise sensitivity-may influence its perception. However, few studies have thus far been conducted on noise annoyance in South Korea that consider noise sensitivity and noise level simultaneously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between noise sensitivity or noise level and noise annoyance on a large scale in South Korea. This study estimated the level of noise exposure based on a noise map created in 2014; identified and surveyed 1836 subjects using a questionnaire; and assessed the impact of transportation noise and noise sensitivity on noise annoyance. The result showed that noise exposure level and noise sensitivity simultaneously affect noise annoyance, and noise sensitivity has a relatively larger impact on noise annoyance. In conclusion, when study subjects were exposed to a similar level of noise, the level of noise annoyance differed depending on the noise sensitivity of the individual.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan 44033, Korea. yadaf@hanmail.net.
Joo Hyun
JH
Sung
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan 44033, Korea. oemdoc@naver.com.
Jiho
J
Lee
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dongguk University Seoul, Graduate School of Medicine, 27 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10326, Korea. bandyoem@naver.com.
Kyoung Sook
KS
Jeong
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea. solee@snu.ac.kr.
Soogab
S
Lee
School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ulsan, 93, Daehak-ro, Nam-gu, Ulsan 44610, Korea. cmlee@ulsan.ac.kr.
Changmyung
C
Lee
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Korea. mdjominwoo@gmail.com.
Min-Woo
MW
Jo
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan 44033, Korea. zzz0202@naver.com.
Chang Sun
CS
Sim
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
annoyance; health impact assessment; sensitivity; transportation noise