scholarly journals Home Environment and Noise Annoyance in a National Sample of Multi-Family Buildings in Sweden- Associations with Stress-Related Symptoms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Wang ◽  
Dan Norbäck
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Ground Floor ◽  
Noise Annoyance ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background: Poor acoustic condition at home can have negative health impact. The aim was to investigate home environment factors and stress symptoms associated with noise annoyance. Methods: All adults (≥18 y) registered in selected apartments in Sweden were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey including medical questions and personal factors. Totally 5775 adults participated (response rate 46%). Information on home environment was obtained through an indoor environment questionnaire. Two-level logistic regression models (individual, municipality) were performed to estimate associations.Results: Totally 11.2% reported any frequent noise at home. Voice/radio/TV/music/similar sounds from neighbours (13.2%) and scraping sound/footsteps/thumping from neighbours (16.5%) and road traffic (16.1%). Younger participants reported more noise annoyance and more stress-related symptoms. Females were more sensitive to noise from neighbours and traffic noise causing severe effects. Noise annoyance was related to tiredness, headache and difficulty concentrating (OR=1.70-8.19), and noise annoyance from many sources was related to a higher risk of symptoms. A warmer climate (OR=1.30), buildings constructed from 1961-1985 (OR=1.50-1.85), renting (OR=1.83) and living alone (OR=1.42) were related to more noise annoyance. A warmer climate (OR=1.95), higher municipality population density (OR=1.24), a longer living time (OR=1.34), construction year (1961-1975) (OR=2.42), renting (OR=1.80-2.32), living above ground floor (OR=1.45) and having a bathroom fan (OR=1.84) were associated with increased noise annoyance from neighbours. Factors associated with increased noise annoyance from installations or ventilation/fans/heat pumps included a warmer climate, higher municipality population density, construction year (1961-1995), renting and any mechanical ventilation. Higher municipality population density, construction year (especially 1961-1985) and renting were associated with more noise annoyance from traffic (OR=1.77-3.92). Renting (OR=1.73) and living above ground floor (OR=1.60) were related to more severe traffic noise effects.Conclusions: The present study shows that noise annoyance may cause stress-related symptoms. Younger age, female gender, living alone, a longer living time, a warmer climate, higher municipality population density and building factors (renting, construction period 1961-1975, living above ground floor and mechanical ventilation system) were related to more noise annoyance.

scholarly journals Home environment and noise disturbance in a national sample of multi-family buildings in Sweden-associations with medical symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Wang ◽  
Dan Norbäck
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Ground Floor ◽  
Noise Disturbance ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Medical Symptoms ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background Poor acoustic conditions at home can have negative health impact. The aim was to investigate home environment factors and medical symptoms associated with noise disturbance. Methods All adults (≥18 y) registered in selected apartments in Sweden were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey including medical questions and personal factors. Totally 5775 adults participated (response rate 46%). Information on home environment was obtained through an indoor environment questionnaire. Two-level logistic regression models (individual, municipality) were performed to estimate associations. Results Totally 11.9% reported noise disturbance in general at home. Noise disturbance from voice/radio/TV/music/similar sounds from neighbours (13.2%), scraping sound/footsteps/thumping from neighbours (16.5%) and road traffic (16.1%) were common. Younger age and smoking were related to more noise disturbance and more medical symptoms. Noise disturbance was related to tiredness, headache and difficulty concentrating (OR = 1.70–8.19). Renting the apartment (OR = 2.53) and living above ground floor (OR = 1.37) were related to more noise disturbance in general. Living in newer buildings (constructed from 1986 to 2005) was related to less noise disturbance in general (OR = 0.40–0.59). A warmer climate (OR = 1.95), higher municipality population density (OR = 1.24), a longer living time (OR = 1.34), construction year (1961–1975) (OR = 2.42), renting (OR = 1.80–2.32), living above ground floor (OR = 1.45) and having a bathroom fan (OR = 1.84) were associated with increased noise disturbance from neighbours. Factors associated with increased noise disturbance from installations or ventilation/fans/heat pumps included a warmer climate, higher municipality population density, construction year (1961–1995), renting and any mechanical ventilation. Higher municipality population density, construction year (especially 1961–1985) and renting were associated with more noise disturbance from traffic (OR = 1.77–3.92). Renting the apartment (OR = 1.73) and living above ground floor (OR = 1.60) were related to more severe traffic noise disturbances. Noise disturbance in general was partly a mediator of the effects of old buildings, renting the apartment and lack of mechanical ventilation on medical symptoms (% of total effect mediated by noise disturbance: 19–44.8%). Conclusions Noise disturbance can be associated medical symptoms. Younger age, smoking, a warmer climate, higher municipality population density and different building factors (e.g. renting the apartment, construction period 1961–1985) can be associated with noise disturbance.

scholarly journals The influence of a signal’s time structure on the perceived noise annoyance of road traffic noise

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Felcyn
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Temporal Structure ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Time Structure ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Road Traffic Noise ◽  
Noise Annoyance ◽  
Modern Cities ◽  
Negative Feelings

Abstract Purpose Road traffic noise is the most common source of noise in modern cities. The noise indicators used to manage noise do not take into account its temporal structure. However, in cities the traffic flow varies during the day, peaking due to congestion and more fluent periods. In this research we sought to analyze how people (giving answers on a numerical ICBEN scale) perceive noise stimuli with the same LAeqT values but different time structures (more/less noise events, different amplitude envelopes). Methods 31 people with normal hearing took part in an experiment conducted in an anechoic chamber. Participants listened to 18 different noise recordings and rated each of them using the numerical ICBEN scale regarding noise annoyance. Results The results showed that only sound level was a statistically significant factor. However, based on people’s remarks about noise, we can also say that the more intermittent the noise is, the more negative feelings it evokes in people. Conclusions Time structure does not have a significant influence on people’s judgments about noise annoyance. However, people tend to have a preference for a steady noise rather than an intermittent one.

scholarly journals Effect of Mechanical Ventilation on Accidental Hydrogen Releases—Large-Scale Experiments

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3008
Author(s):  
Agnieszka W. Lach ◽  
André V. Gaathaug
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Hydrogen Gas ◽  
Forced Ventilation ◽  
British Standard ◽  
Confined Spaces ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Rate Limit

This paper presents a series of experiments on the effectiveness of existing mechanical ventilation systems during accidental hydrogen releases in confined spaces, such as underground garages. The purpose was to find the mass flow rate limit, hence the TPRD diameter limit, that will not require a change in the ventilation system. The experiments were performed in a 40 ft ISO container in Norway, and hydrogen gas was used in all experiments. The forced ventilation system was installed with a standard 315 mm diameter outlet. The ventilation parameters during the investigation were British Standard with 10 ACH and British Standard with 6 ACH. The hydrogen releases were obtained through 0.5 mm and 1 mm nozzles from different hydrogen reservoir pressures. Both types of mass flow, constant and blowdown, were included in the experimental matrix. The analysis of the hydrogen concentration of the created hydrogen cloud in the container shows the influence of the forced ventilation on hydrogen releases, together with TPRD diameter and reservoir pressure. The generated experimental data will be used to validate a CFD model in the next step.

scholarly journals Effect of school reopening on SARS-CoV-2 incidence in a low-prevalence region: Prospective SARS-CoV-2 testing in healthcare workers with primary school-attending children versus without children living at home

2021 ◽  
pp. 175717742110124
Author(s):  
Melvin Frie ◽  
Lisa M Havinga ◽  
Janneke Wiersema-Buist ◽  
Charlotte G Veldman ◽  
Marjan JT de Vries ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Regional Strategies ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
At Home

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often presents asymptomatically or milder in children compared to adults. The role of young children in the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains largely unknown. In the Netherlands, the first action of loosening the partial lockdown that had been implemented to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission was the reopening of primary schools on 1 May 2020. We subsequently conducted a prospective cohort study among healthcare workers (HCWs) with primary school-attending children versus HCWs without children living at home. We tested each HCW three times for SARS-CoV-2 from May 20 to June 15 2020 at 1-week intervals. In total, 832 nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from 283 HCWs with primary school-attending children living at home and 864 nasopharyngeal swabs from 285 HCWs without children living at home. All nasopharyngeal swabs tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. In our region with a low population density and low SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, reopening of primary schools did not lead to an increase in infections. The results of this study may serve as an example for the implementation of regional strategies to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in countries with large variations in both population density and SARS-CoV-2 prevalence.

Long-term noninvasive mechanical ventilation for children at home: A national survey

2003 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Fauroux ◽  
C. Boffa ◽  
I. Desguerre ◽  
B. Estournet ◽  
H. Trang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
At Home

Mechanical ventilation at home

BMJ ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 298 (6688) ◽  
pp. 1643-1643
Author(s):  
J W H Watt ◽  
K R Krishnan
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
At Home

scholarly journals Impact of road traffic noise annoyance on health-related quality of life: results from a population-based study

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Dratva ◽  
Elisabeth Zemp ◽  
Denise Felber Dietrich ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Bridevaux ◽  
Thierry Rochat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Road Traffic Noise ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Noise Annoyance ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related
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