The WHO evidence review on noise annoyance 2000-2014

WHO Europe commissioned a systematic evidence review on the effects of environmental noise on residential long-term annoyance. The main noise sources considered are aircraft, road traffic, railway traffic, combined transportation sources, and wind turbines. Methods: Data sources and study eligibility criteria were defined, a systematic literature search was done, publication quality was assessed and selection criteria for the paper defined. In addition, study quality criteria were defined for each of the studies presented in the included papers.Results: In general, there is a consistent effect of noise on annoyance; summary correlation coefficients range between 0.442 (combined sources), and 0.278 (wind turbines). The iunadjusted OR with a 10 dB level increase, based on observed data, ranges between OR = 3.405 (aircraft), and 2.738 (road). The OR for a 10 dB level increase, based on modelled data, ranges between OR = 6.633 (combined sources), and 3.033 (road). A 5 dB level increase of wind turbine sounds is associated with an OR=3.125 (outdoor / home). Tentative exposure-response relations for studies published between 2000 and 2014 are presented for the three transportation noise sources, respectively. With respect to exposure-response functions for aircraft noise, we propose to distinguish between "high-rate change", and "low-rate-change" airports.