Direct reanalyses of over 57 000 interview responses to 35 noise sources in 20 social surveys and reviews of publications for over 12 000 additional responses to 16 noise sources in 13 social surveys show that residents’ reactions to an audible environmental noise (a target noise) are only slightly or not at all reduced by the presence of another noise source (ambient noise) in residential environments. The direct reanalyses account for type of noise source (aircraft, road traffic, railway, impulse noise), type of noise reaction question, type of activity disturbance, quality of noise data, type of regression analysis model (linear, logit, probit), two noise metrics (DNL, LAeq), and ten personal characteristics. Although there is considerable variation from survey to survey, the best direct estimate is that approximately a 20-dB increase in ambient noise exposure (95% confidence interval of 15–50 dB) has no more impact than approximately a 1-dB decrease in target noise exposure. Tabulations of 12 findings...

Reactions to environmental noise in an ambient noise context in residential areas

This report describes all social surveys of residents' reactions to environmental noise in residential areas that have been located in English language publications from 1943 to December of 2000. A total of 521 surveys are described. The surveys are indexed by country, noise source, and date of survey. The publications and reports from each survey are listed in a bibliography.

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An Updated Catalog of 521 Social Surveys of Residents' Reactions to Environmental Noise (1943-2000)

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NRC Publications Archive Archives des publications du CNRC

A large number of variables in addition to noise correlate with community reaction, yet to date virtually the only method used to reduce reaction is to reduce noise exposure. It is suggested that this obvious and effective countermeasure may be supplemented with additional measures. Modifying variables may be manipulated to reduce reaction if they meet three criteria: the variable must have a sufficiently strong relationship with reaction to be of practical value; the variable must be a causal factor in reaction (or turn out to be part of reaction); and the variable must be potentially manipulable. Available data suggest that a number of modifying variables may meet these criteria (attitude, reduction in rates, direct sight of the noise source, and fear of crashes). It is suggested that research is needed to establish with greater confidence the direction of causality and the impact of modifying variables on reaction. In particular, the manipulation of modifying variables in order to reduce reaction (either alone or in combination with noise reduction) deserves direct testing.

A Lawrence

Papers

The combined effect of road traffic and aircraft noise on people