Problems of road traffic noise annoyance and sleep disturbance in some Slovakian cities

摘要

The paper presents the results of a pilot cross-sectional study focused on subjective traffic noise annoyance and sleep disturbance among the residents living close to major inner city corridors in several Slovakian towns including the capital Bratislava and Kosice. The subjective adaptation to traffic noise, subjective evaluation of health status and well-being were assessed as well. The questionnaire survey was distributed to the pilot sample of 543 respondents (average age 45.3±4.5 years, 73.1% of respondents in the age from 35 to 65 years, 26.9% in the age up to 35 years, 53% females, 81% living in houses more than five years). The inhabitants with bedroom windows facing noisy streets or quite streets represented the exposed and the control group. Road traffic noise annoys significantly more daily and night activities of respondents in the exposed group who are unable to adapt to it neither by day nor by night (OR=2.66; 95 % CI=1.64-4.31 for falling asleep disturbance). The questionnaire was supplemented by traffic noise-measurements in Bratislava, Martin, Trencin, Piest'any on noisy facades 50 meters (L_(Aeq,day) = from 57 dB to 72.4 dB, L_(Aeq,night) = from 52.5 dB to 61.9 dB) and more than 100 meters from noisy traffic communication or inner city corridor. After completion of the results, we plan to propose interim measures to noisy facades of the apartment buildings as well as intervention procedures in the prevention of adverse effects of traffic noise on health.