Human Impact Partners Evidence Base
Articles in Environmental noise is a risk for hearing impairment.
The odds of waking up at night due to environmental noise were 1.7 times greater with noise levels of 55 – 59 dB vs. below 40 dB; 3.6 times greater at 60 – 64 dB vs. below 40 dB; and 7.1 times greater at above 65 dB than below 40 dB.
Aasvang GM, Moum T, Engdahl B. 2008. Self-reported sleep disturbances due to railway noise: Exposure-response relationships for nighttime equivalent and maximum noise levels. J. Acoust Soc Am 124(1):257 – 268Cumulative exposure to relatively moderate levels, such as 70 dB(A), can lead to the irreversible loss of hearing.
Rosenhall U, Pedersen K, Svanborg. 1990. Presbycusis and noise-induced hearing loss. Ear & Hearing 11(4):257-263.In a case-control study, noise-exposed persons had much greater hearing loss than their age cohorts who were relatively unexposed to noise.
Rosen S, Olin P. 1965. Hearing loss and coronary heart disease. Archives of Otollaryngology 82:236.Approximately 10 million people in the US have permanent, irreversible hearing loss from noise or trauma.
Healthy People 2010, 28 Vision and Hearing. Available at: http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume2/28Vision.htm#_edn36Approximately 30 million people are exposed to injurious levels of noise each day.
Healthy People 2010, 28 Vision and Hearing. Available at: http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume2/28Vision.htm#_edn36Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can be the result of continuing exposure to high levels of sound in the workplace or in recreational settings.
Healthy People 2010, 28 Vision and Hearing. Available at: http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume2/28Vision.htm#_edn36NIHL can be exacerbated by individual vulnerability to noise.
Healthy People 2010, 28 Vision and Hearing. Available at: http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume2/28Vision.htm#_edn36