Awakenings related to noises from various traffic modes

Abstract

AIM: To test the hypothesis that aircraft noise causes more awakenings and alterations of sleep structure than rail and road traffic noise. METHODS: 12 women and 12 men (19-28 years) slept, following a habituation night, 4 nights each during 3 consecutive weeks in the laboratory. They were exposed with weekly changes to road-, rail-, or aircraft noise. Each week consisted of a random sequence of a quiet night and 3 nights with equivalent noise levels of 39, 44 and 50 dBA indoors. The polysomnogram was recorded throughout all nights, sleep quality was assessed and performance tests were completed in the morning. RESULTS: Noise-induced awakenings and structural parameters of sleep, subjective quality and performance indicated more disturbances with increasing noise levels. Where decreased subjective sleep quality was not related to the type of noise, noise-induced awakenings and other physiological parameters of sleep were most affected by rail and least by road traffic noise. CONCLUSIONS: As road-, rail- and aircraft noise caused the same after-effects but different physiological effects integrated noise metrics might be suitable for the prediction of subjective sleep quality but not for the physiological disturbances of sleep.