Article,
Effects of noise during sleep with reference to noise sensitivity and habituation
Environment International, (1990)
Abstract
The effect of road traffic noise was investigated among noise-sensitive
and noise non-sensitive subjects in a two-week laboratory study.
Physiological effects on heart rate and body movements in connection
with noise events were found, neither of which decreased toward the
end of the noise period. A significant effect on sleep quality was
found only among the sensitive subjects. The negative influence of
noise on sleep quality, mood and performance was just as pronounced
after the last as after the first noisy nights. Preliminary results
from a laboratory study on the importance of the number of noise
events showed that there is a threshold for effects on sleep quality
around 10 events/night for 60 dBA. For 50 dBA, a significant decrease
in sleep quality was seen at 64 events/night. Results from a field
study in areas characterized by heavy noise suggest that noise during
night hours causes different psycho-social and medical symptoms and
that decreased sleep quality is more frequent among noise-sensitive
individuals.
