Road traffic noise has been associated with many detrimental health effects. Prolonged exposure to road traffic noise can cause a sustained stress reaction, resulting in the release of stress hormones, increases in the heart rate, blood pressure and vasoconstriction, eventually leading to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. A prolonged activation of the stress response can also result in the development of depression and anxiety disorders, having a negative effect on mental health, wellbeing and quality of life.
Two primary health pathways through which road traffic noise can affect the quality of life are annoyance and sleep disturbance. Annoyance results from a repeated disturbance of daily activities (such as communicating, reading, working or sleeping), anger, negative evaluation of the noise source and distress, and can enhance the stress response. Sleep disturbance impairs a proper sleep restoration, which is a precursor for many diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and dementia.
