Aircraft noise effects on sleep: Results of large polysomnographic studies under laboratory and field conditions

Abstract

Environmental noise potentially disrupts sleep and may lead to extrinsic sleep disorders. To assess sleep disturbances and to establish dose-response relations, DLR investigated the influence of nocturnal aircraft noise on sleep under laboratory and field conditions. In the laboratory, 128 subjects were investigated during 13 consecutive nights (1664 nights), applying 4 and 128 aircraft noise events (ANEs) with maximum sound pressure levels (maxSPLs) between 45 and 80 dB(A) during nights 3 to 11. Results were compared with findings of field studies conducted near Cologne airport with 64 subjects (576 nights). Here, SPLs were simultaneously recorded indoors and outdoors. Electrophysiological signals included polysomnography, ECG, plethysmography, respiration and actigraphy. Synchronous recording with acoustic data assured event related analysis. Based on TIB, aircraft noise was associated with a certain sleep fragmentation in the laboratory, as Stage1 and number of awakenings increased. SWS decreased by 5.1 min in exposure nights. Dose-response relationships with both increasing number and maxSPL of ANEs were established. MaxSPL (65 dB(A)) differentiated between short- and long-lasting awakenings. In the field, aircraft noise lead to no obvious changes in sleep structure. At the same maxSPL awakening probability was much lower. The results were used as basis for proposing a new protection concept for residents living near airports.