THE ESSENTIAL
- A link between noise pollution and the risk of having a heart attack has been established.
- 5% of heart attack hospitalizations were attributable to high noise levels.
16,000. This is the number of adults hospitalized in 2018 in New Jersey (United States) following a heart attack. Researchers from the American University Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School decided to recruit these patients in order to determine to what extent transport noises could have favored the occurrence of their infarction.
As part of their study presented at the 71st session of the American College of Cardiology, the scientists divided the participants into several groups to differentiate those who were exposed to the highest levels of noise pollution (more than 65 decibels during of the day) and those who were least exposed to noise (a daily average of less than 50 decibels). The noise levels were calculated on average over the day, in order to take into account the sounds related to the passage of trucks, trains or planes and the moments of calm in a specific area.
About one heart attack in 20 is associated with noise pollution
According to the results, 5% of heart attack hospitalizations were attributable to high noise levels in the state of New Jersey, where the research was carried out. The heart attack rate was 72% higher in locations with significant exposure to transportation noise. The authors of the work counted 3,336 heart attacks (per 100,000 people), against 1,938 in quieter areas. In view of these results, the researchers deduce that high noise exposure is responsible for approximately one in 20 heart attacks in this American state.
Although the study did not look into the biological mechanisms behind this association, the authors of the work assume that noise is the cause of chronic stress, which can lead to sleep disturbances and sleep disorders. emotional (anxiety, depression) and impact cardiovascular health.
The increased risk of heart attack is unfortunately not the only deleterious effect of noise pollution on our health. Previous studies have also associated prolonged exposure to road traffic noise with risks of deafness and dementia. As with the risk of heart attack, these adverse effects all seem to have a common factor: stress.