People living near airports may be slightly more susceptible to heart attacks and related issues, a study published in the online journal Environment International journal suggests. According to The Independent, research led by Imperial College London analyzed hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases among residents whose homes are under Heathrow Airport’s flight paths.
The analysis found “evidence of a small increase in risk” of being admitted to hospital for that reason among people who had experienced higher noise during the previous night. Men aged above 65 appeared to be particularly affected. The paper stated that aircraft noise has been found to disrupt sleep and raise blood pressure and stress hormone levels, which are factors linked to heart problems.
Further research into these potential mechanisms is needed.
Imperial College London
“These findings provide potential evidence that aircraft noise in the late evening and night-time may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations and deaths in the population living within the Heathrow Airport noise contour,” the researchers said. “This is consistent with a mechanism of action via disturbed sleep and has implications for developing respite measures for the communities situated near busy airports.”
Heathrow Airport supported Imperial College London in conducting the study. Management said that reducing the impact of noise from flights is a vital part of its sustainability strategy. Executives said they have reduced its noise footprint – the area where residents are exposed to aircraft noise – by 28 per cent since 2006, as reported by The Independent.
“Further research into these potential respite mechanisms and behavioral interventions, including runway rotation and noise insulation initiatives, is needed to understand how best to translate the findings from this study into action,” the researchers said.
Evidence of an association between aircraft noise and deaths due to cardiovascular diseases was limited, although this could be attributed to a small sample size. The research was based on figures recorded between 2014 and 2018.
Aircraft noise has been a contentious issue during Heathrow’s long-running bid to gain permission to build a third runway. Modern passenger planes are quieter than previous models but there are concerns that an increase in flights will cause more disturbance.
Health risks for those living near Brussels Airport
In April of this year, the Flemish Federation for a Better Environment (Bond Beter Leefmilieu) and citizen movements around Brussels Airport called on Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir to investigate the health risks to people living near the airport, and to include in the new environmental permit a binding path towards low-noise and CO2-neutral operation. Brussels Airport is due for a new environmental permit and according to the Federation, it seems like not only the enormous nitrogen and CO2 emissions are causing health problems.
Bond Beter Leefmilieu has brought the issue to the attention of the Minister after a study conducted by ENV-ISA showed that the health damage caused by flight noise has been severely underestimated. The health cost for local residents would amount to more than 1 billion euros on an annual basis.
At the request of Bond Beter Leefmilieu, ENV-ISA calculated how many people suffer health damage as a result of the aircraft noise around Brussels Airport. The calculations show that, on an annual basis, 220,000 people living in the neighborhood are strongly affected by aircraft noise and that the sleep of 109,000 people living in the neighborhood is seriously disturbed. Also, 51,000 people run a greatly increased risk of developing hypertension and 2,000 people even a greatly increased risk of heart disease. Brussels Airport is due for a new environmental permit.
“Our body reacts, day and night, autonomously to noise, because our body unconsciously associates noise with danger,” Marc Goethals, cardiologist at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Hospital in Aalst told Bond Beter Leefmilieu. “Our body goes into a state of defense, the so-called ‘fight-or-flight’ response. This leads to a rise in blood pressure, a faster heart rate and release of stress hormones.”
ENV-ISA has calculated that sleep disruption, blood pressure problems and heart disease cost our society at least 1 billion euros annually. Per night flight, this means an average of 36,000 euros in health damage. This is still an underestimate, as it does not include the costs of medication and hospitalization.
