Low Frequency Noise - An inventory of literature and of the situation in the Netherlands

Low Frequency Noise (LFN) is an environmental stressor causing annoyance and, potentially, sleep disturbance. It is a topic of increasing social concern. In the Netherlands, an increasing number of complaints about LFN in the home environment is filed each year. A consortium of four ministeries has asked the RIVM to prepare an overview on LFN, including literature, an update on the Dutch situation and advise on how to move forward in the field of LFN. To gain insight in the way that LFN complaints are handled in the Netherlands, a questionnaire was filled in by officials of municipalities and other public authorities, and by audiologists This paper will contain an overview of LFN literature, findings of our questionnaire study and recommendations for future research on LFN.