Longitudinal surveys on effects of changes in road traffic noise:
effects on sleep assessed by general questionnaires and 3-day sleep
logs
Journal of Sound and Vibration, (2004)Abstract
Adverse health effects including sleep disturbances by road traffic
noise were studied among inhabitants in a residential area near Västra
Bräckevägen in Göteborg city, Sweden, in 1986 and 1987, before and
after the introduction of night traffic regulations. The results
of those studies showed a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances
and poorer sleep quality in the exposed areas as compared with the
control area. This paper presents results on sleep based on new studies
done with general questionnaires and daily sleep logs for a period
of 3 nights in 1997 and 1999 in the same areas, before and after
the opening of a new tunnel for road traffic. At this time, road
traffic had been substantially reduced from about 25 000 to 2 400
vehicles per 24 h and from 1375 to 180 vehicles per night (22–06).
It is concluded from these long-term investigations that exposure
to high levels of road traffic noise induces adverse effects on sleep
and that sleep quality is significantly improved after an extensive
noise reduction. Sleep quality assessed by a single general questionnaire
may give equally good precision as daily reports on sleep over several
days. Furthermore, a higher response rate is achieved by a single
questionnaire.