Effects of aircraft noise on annoyance and sleep disturbances before and after expansion of Frankfurt Airport - Results of the NORAH study, WP 1 'Annoyance and quality of life'

In October/November 2011 a new runway was opened at Frankfurt Airport and a night curfew from 11pm to 5am has been implemented. Within the project NORAH (Noise Related Annoyance, Cognition and Health) a longitudinal study on the impact of aircraft noise on annoyance and reported sleep disturbances before and after these changes had been carried out. The study included a survey with a stratified random address sample of residents living near the airport who were interviewed before the runway opening (2011) and in follow-ups in 2012 and 2013. For each address and each survey wave among others the source-specific aircraft noise exposure in terms of LpAeq for different times of day were calculated for a 12-months-period. 3508 of 9244 residents interviewed in 2011 took part in all survey waves. Results show that the exposure-response curve for aircraft noise annoyance against the LpAeq,24h shifts after opening of the new runway in dependency of local changes in sound levels. Reported sleep disturbances were reduced after the introduction of the night curfew except with respect to disturbances while falling asleep or in the early morning. Several non-acoustical factors partly explain the changes in aircraft noise reactions.