Road-traffic noise and factors influencing noise annoyance in an
urban population
Environment International, (2009)Abstract
Noise annoyance is influenced by sound-related factors: type of noise,
noise level and frequency, and person-related factors—physiological,
psychological, and social factors. Prior to implementation of the
Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
in Serbia, there was a need for the first comprehensive study on
noise annoyance in Serbian urban population. The aim of this study
was to determine principal factors for high noise annoyance in an
adult urban population and to assess their predictive value. A cross-sectional
study was performed on 3097 adult residents of a downtown municipality
in Belgrade (1217 men and 1880 women), aged 18–96 years. Equivalent
noise levels Leq (dBA) were measured during day, evening and night
in all streets of the municipality. Noise annoyance was estimated
using self-reported annoyance scale. Noise annoyance showed strong
correlation with noise levels, personal characteristics and some
housing conditions. Dose–response relationship was found between
the percentage of highly annoyed residents and Lden. Logistic regression
model identified increased risk for a high level of noise annoyance
with regard to: orientation of living room/bedroom toward the street
(Odds Ratio = 2.60; 95% Confidence Interval = 2.04–3.31), duration
of stay at apartment during the day OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.02–1.06
(per hour), noise sensitivity OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.03–1.04 (per
scale unit), and nighttime road-traffic noise level OR = 1.03,
95%CI = 1.02–1.04 (per decibel).