Road Noise Warning Issued

Doctors have issued a warning that the stress from living in noisy areas can be bad for your health.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have released a study that shows that higher levels of noise pollution can lead to an increased risk of strokes, raised blood pressure, insomnia and weight gain. 

According to the study, residents subjected to 60-decibel-plus (dB) traffic noise during the day faced a 4% increased risk of dying compared to people living in places where the noise rates were under 55dB.

The study, led by Jaana Halonen from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, showed that 1.6 million Londoners were frequently enduring daytime traffic noise that exceeded the 55dB threshold recommended by the World Health Organisation.

“Public health policies must pay more attention to this emerging evidence,” said Francesco Cappuccio, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Warwick.

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