Long term health effects of noise exposure

1. Sufficient evidence

Observation threshold
(levels above which effect starts)
Effect situation noise metric level in dB(A) inside/outside
- hearing damage work LAeq,8hr 75 inside
sport LAeq,24hr 70 inside
- hypertension work LAeq,8hr <85 inside
home LAeq,6-22hr 70 outside
- ischaemische hartdiseases home LAeq,6-22hr 70 outside
- annoyance home Ldn 42 outside
- awakening sleep SEL 55 inside
- sleep stages sleep SEL 35 inside
- self reported sleep quality sleep LAeq,night 40 outside
-school performance school LAeq,day 70 outside

2. Limited evidence

- birth-weigt - - - -
- immune system - - - -
- psychiatric admission - - - -

3. Lack of evidence

- congenital effects - - - -
- immune system sleep - - -
Source:Noise and Health, Health Council of the Netherlands,september 1994