Aircraft noise can kill, report claims - Daily Telegraph - Feb 13/08

Aircraft noise can kill, report claims

By Nic Fleming, Medical Correspondent
Last Updated: 3:30am GMT 13/02/2008

Thousands of people are killed each year by increases in blood
pressure triggered by night-time noise from aircraft, a new study
claims.

Researchers found the sound of planes taking off and landing while
people sleep increases blood pressure both immediately and in the
long term.

Those living closest to airports were almost 50 per cent more likely
to suffer from hypertension, a known trigger for heart attacks,
strokes, kidney disease and dementia.

The findings come from a major four-year study called the
Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports (Hyena) project,
funded by the European Commission.

Approximately six million people in the UK receive treatment for high
blood pressure, and it is estimated to cause approximately 100,000
strokes and heart attacks every year. About half are fatal.

Dr Lars Jarup, co-author of the new study from Imperial College
London, said: "We know that noise from air traffic can be a source of
irritation, but our research shows it can also be damaging for
people's health.
"Our studies show that night-time aircraft noise can affect your
blood pressure instantly and increase the risk of hypertension.

"This was surprising. Such an immediate effect from noise events has
never been shown.

"While these were transient effects, other work we have carried out
shows repeated exposure has a long term effect on blood pressure.

"Our findings are significant in light of plans to expand
international airports."

Dr Jarup and colleagues, whose work will be published in the European
Heart Journal, identified 140 people who had lived near four major
European airports - Heathrow, Athens, Malpensa, Italy, and Arlanda in
Sweden - for at least five years.

For one night they had their blood pressure measured every 15
minutes, while noise levels and types were recorded in their bedrooms.

Each increase in noise caused by aircraft caused increases in blood
pressure within minutes.

Findings from the main Hyena study suggested planes can boost night-
time noise levels by up to 30 decibels for those living nearby, and
that each 10dB increase causes an average increase in the chances of
being diagnosed with hypertension of 14 per cent.