Author
Barbara Griefahn
Bio: Barbara Griefahn is an academic researcher from University of Düsseldorf. The author has contributed to research in topics: Noise & Noise. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 75 citations.
Topics: Noise, Noise, Rapid eye movement sleep, Traffic noise, Poison control
Papers
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TL;DR: The equivalent sound pressure level measured for high-density road traffic seems to be a valuable predictor for subjective sleep disturbances as long as the maximum levels do not exceed it by more than 8-10 dBA.
Abstract: Eighteen female and 18 male students (21-30 years) slept in the lab during 12 consecutive nights each, where a high-density road traffic noise was played back with four intensities. EEG and EOG were recorded continuously throughout the nights. In the morning the subjects assessed their sleep and completed a reaction time test. The following conclusions were made: Performance was not affected by noise. REM sleep decreased abruptly as soon as the sound pressure level exceeded 44 dBA. With increasing noise, sleep was assessed as increasingly worse. Noise-induced sleep disturbances were not related to sex. The equivalent sound pressure level measured for high-density road traffic seems to be a valuable predictor for subjective sleep disturbances as long as the maximum levels do not exceed it by more than 8-10 dBA. On the basis of the assessment of sleep and supported by the abrupt decrease of REM sleep, an equivalent noise level of 40 dBA indoors was defined as a critical load, above which nocturnal noise cannot be tolerated any longer. Language: en
43 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed the critical load for continuous noise as 40 dBA indoors and the admissible risk for intermittent noise is determined by a curve which relates the maximum levels to the number of the single noise events.
32 citations
Cited by
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TL;DR: It is found from the present review that the continuous exposure of people to road traffic noise leads to suffering from various kinds of discomfort, thus reducing appreciably the number of their well-being elements.
410 citations
TL;DR: The equivalent noise level seems to be a suitable predictor for subjectively evaluated sleep quality but not for physiological sleep disturbances, where physiological sleep parameters were most severely affected by rail noise.
180 citations
TL;DR: It is found that noise pollution is not an environmental problem reserved for developed countries, but occurs in developing countries as well, and steps might be required to reduce noise levels caused by road traffic.
127 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that night time exposure to LFN may affect the cortisol response upon wake up and that lower cortisol levels after awakening were associated with subjective reports of lower sleep quality and mood.
117 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that alterations of subjective evaluation of sleep were determined by physical parameters of the noise but modified by individual factors like noise sensitivity.
Abstract: In order to determine the influence of noise sensitivity on sleep, subjective sleep quality, annoyance, and performance after nocturnal exposure to traffic noise, 12 women and 12 men (age range, 19-28 years) were observed during four consecutive nights over a three weeks period. After a habituation night, the participants were exposed with weekly permuted changes to air, rail and road traffic noise. Of the four nights, one was a quiet night (32 dBA), while three were noisy nights with exposure to equivalent noise levels of 39, 44, and 50 dBA in a permuted order. The traffic noise caused alterations of most of the physiological parameters, subjective evaluation of sleep, annoyance, and performance. Correlations were found between noise sensitivity and subjective sleep quality in terms of worsened restoration, decreased calmness, difficulty to fall asleep, and body movements. The results suggest that alterations of subjective evaluation of sleep were determined by physical parameters of the noise but modified by individual factors like noise sensitivity.
95 citations