The impact of aircraft noise on health is of growing concern. We investigated the relationship between this exposure and mortality from cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. We performed an ecological study on 161 communes (commune being the smallest administrative unit in France) close to the following three major French airports: Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Lyon Saint-Exupery, and Toulouse-Blagnac. The mortality data were provided by the French Center on Medical Causes of Death for the period 2007-2010. Based on the data provided by the French Civil Aviation Authority, a weighted average exposure to aircraft noise (L den AEI) was computed at the commune level. A Poisson regression model with commune-specific random intercepts, adjusted for potential confounding factors including air pollution, was used to investigate the association between mortality rates and L den AEI. Positive associations were observed between L den AEI and mortality from cardiovascular disease [adjusted mortality rate ratio (MRR) per 10 dB(A) increase in L den AEI = 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-1.25], coronary heart disease [MRR = 1.24 (1.12-1.36)], and myocardial infarction [MRR = 1.28 (1.11-1.46]. Stroke mortality was more weakly associated with L den AEI [MRR = 1.08 (0.97-1.21]. These significant associations were not attenuated after the adjustment for air pollution. The present ecological study supports the hypothesis of an association between aircraft noise exposure and mortality from cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction. However, the potential for ecological bias and the possibility that this association could be due to residual confounding cannot be excluded.

Does exposure to aircraft noise increase the mortality from cardiovascular disease in the population living in the vicinity of airports? Results of an ecological study in France.

Objectives The largest study until now around 6 major European airports, the HYENA (HYpertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports) study, reported an excess risk of hypertension related to long-term aircraft noise exposure. The DEBATS (Discussion on the health effects of aircraft noise) study investigated the relationship between this exposure and the risk of hypertension in men and in women near French airports. Methods Blood pressure of 1244 participants older than 18 years of age was measured. Information about health, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors was collected by means of a face-to-face questionnaire performed at home by an interviewer. Aircraft noise exposure was assessed for each participant9s home address using noise maps. They were calculated with the Integrated Noise Model with a 1 dB(A)-resolution. The major potential confounders being risk factors for hypertension were included in the logistic regression models: age, occupational activity, body mass index, physical activity and alcohol consumption. Results After adjustment for the main potential confounders, an exposure–response relationship was evidenced between the risk of hypertension and aircraft noise exposure at night for men only. A 10-dB(A) increase in L night was associated with an OR of 1.34 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.97). Conclusions These findings contribute to the overall evidence suggesting that aircraft noise exposure at night-time may increase the risk of hypertension in men. Hypertension is a well-known and established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The association reported in the present study between aircraft noise and hypertension implies that aircraft noise might be a risk factor also for cardiovascular disease.

https://oem.bmj.com/content/oemed/early/2016/08/01/oemed-2016-103648.full.pdf

Does aircraft noise exposure increase the risk of hypertension in the population living near airports in France

A systematic approach to assess the effectiveness of airport noise mitigation strategies

Uncertainty quantification of an Aviation Environmental Toolsuite

The role of aircraft noise annoyance and noise sensitivity in the association between aircraft noise levels and hypertension risk: Results of a pooled analysis from seven European countries.

The Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Environment and Energy, Noise Division (FAA, AEE-100) has developed Version 7.0 of the Integrated Noise Model (INM) with support from the ATAC Corporation and the Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. The FAA Integrated Noise Model is widely used by the civilian aviation community for evaluating aircraft noise impacts in the vicinity of airports. The model is typically used in the U.S. for FAR Part 150 noise compatibility planning, FAR Part 161 approval of airport noise restrictions, and for environmental assessments and environmental impact statements under the current version of FAA Order 1050.1E. New features in INM 7.0 include: lateral attenuation calculations based on SAE-AIR-5662; flight path segmentation, flight procedure step types, bank angle calculations, and thrust reverser implementation based on ECAC Doc 29; helicopter modeling methods based on Version 2.2 of FAA’s Heliport Noise Model (HNM); an HNM study import function; a scenario annualization function allowing operations to be adjusted after performing a run; a multi-threaded run mode; fixed-spacing contour grid functionality; increased differentiation between different type of aircraft (civil, military, and helicopter); the ability to input location values in lat/long or X/Y; and many extended database fields. INM Version 7.0 software runs on PCs using a minimum hardware configuration of a Pentium III processor, Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP operating systems, 1.0-Gb RAM, mouse input device, hard disk drive, and CD-ROM drive.

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/12187/dot_12187_DS1.pdf

Integrated Noise Model (INM) Version 7.0 User's Guide

Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT): technical manual, version 2b, service pack 3

The Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Environment and Energy (FAA-AEE) has developed the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) version 2a software system with the support of the following development team: FAA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), ATAC Corporation, Metron Aviation, Wyle Laboratories, CSSI, Inc., Foliage, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Georgia Tech. AEDT 2a is designed to dynamically model aircraft performance in space and time to compute aircraft noise, emissions, and fuel burn. This document is the AEDT 2a Service Pack 2 Uncertainty Quantification Supplemental Report, which compares changes between AEDT 2a and Service Pack 2 based on verification and validation and capability demonstrations of the software’s methodologies and performance in comparison with legacy models.

Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) Uncertainty Quantification Supplemental Report Version 2a Service Pack 2 (SP2)

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/49814/dot_49814_DS1.pdf

Denise Rickel

Papers

Integrated Noise Model (INM) Version 7.0 User's Guide

Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT): technical manual, version 2b, service pack 3

Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) Uncertainty Quantification Supplemental Report Version 2a Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) Technical Manual: Version 2c