The efficacy of pink noise and earplugs for mitigating sleep disruption induced by different environmental noise sources

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of pink noise and earplugs in mitigating sleep fragmentation induced by intermittent environmental noise. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adults (mean ± SD age 28.5 ± 5.9 years, 7 male) participated in a polysomnographic laboratory study with intermittent exposure to environmental noise (93 events; maximum sound pressure level 45 to 65 dBA), pink noise (40 or 50 dBA), foam earplugs, and their combination. Results: Pink noise mitigated aircraft noise induced arousals and awakenings in a dose-response manner but was outperformed by earplugs. Awakening and arousal probability were highest for a crying baby and a fire alarm sound, followed by helicopter, low sonic boom, drone, rail, jet, and road noise. Conclusions: Earplugs emerged as a more efficacious option for mitigating environmental noise effects on sleep disruption compared to pink noise. Noise legislation relying on jet noise studies likely underestimate the effects of helicopter noise and other emerging aircraft sounds on sleep.