Evidence that people who live near major airports have poorer cardiac function suggests that stricter noise limits for planes are urgently needed.
Summary
People who live near large, noisy airports have less healthy hearts. This puts them at risk of heart attacks, stroke and heart failure. The results, which come from studying almost 27,000 UK Biobank participants’ heart scans, should put pressure on governments and the aviation industry to limit aeroplane noise.
The results should put extra pressure on governments and also on the aviation industry to…take better care of the lives and wellbeing of millions of people who are potentially at risk from [aeroplane noise].
Dr Gaby Captur, University College London, UK
People who live under noisy flight paths tend to have thicker, stiffer and weaker hearts, scans from almost 27,000 UK Biobank participants have revealed. These changes in the heart put people at higher risk of heart attacks, stroke and heart failure.
While the study on its own can’t prove that noise causes unhealthy heart changes, it adds to other evidence that this could be the case, says study leader Gabriella Captur from University College London, UK. “The results should put extra pressure on governments and also on the aviation industry to, in my opinion, take better care of the lives and wellbeing of millions of people who are potentially at risk from [aeroplane noise],” she explains.
Noise – an underestimated threat
The World Health Organization calls noise “an underestimated threat”. In 2017, around 4 million people in the European Union were exposed to chronic aeroplane noise above 55 decibels, a threshold at which it starts to impact health. Aeroplane noise, explains Captur, is particularly troublesome because it’s so unpredictable – unlike the continuous rumble of road traffic.
Previous studies have linked chronic noise to poorer heart health. Now, researchers have compared heart scans from 3,600 UK Biobank participants who lived for several years near major airports – London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham or Manchester – with those from 21,300 participants who lived elsewhere.
The heart muscles of people exposed to chronic noise, particularly during the night, tended to be thicker and stiffer than those of people who live in quieter places. This could increase their risk of heart attack, stroke and other major heart problems by up to four times.
Nighttime noise
Cardiologist Thomas Münzel, who investigates how noise and pollution affect health at the University of Mainz in Germany, calls the study “outstanding”. He’s impressed with its scale and the fact that the researchers focused on low noise levels. “50 to 60 decibels is the level of a conversation,” he explains. “You would say: ‘This is not very annoying.’ But you have to think that the main impact is for nighttime noise.” Only 35 decibels can wake us up.
Noise is making us sick. Our results indicate that it really all boils down to an increased risk of both obesity and high blood pressure.
Dr Gaby Captur, University College London, UK
Münzel says that there is now enough evidence – from animal studies as well as observations on humans – to clearly show that “noise is making us sick”. “Our results indicate that it really all boils down to an increased risk of both obesity and high blood pressure,” Captur explains. Constant noise can cause chronic stress, promoting weight gain and hypertension, which damage the heart muscles.
A strong message
Air travel is growing rapidly, with passenger numbers in Europe expected to rise by nearly 50% by 2040. Yet many countries don’t limit airport noise.
Captur hopes that the results are empowering people to speak up about noise pollution. “We are engaged both with the aviation industry and with local governments and policymakers,” she says. “They are listening to some of this research that’s coming out through UK Biobank.” Noise could be reduced by refining flight paths, limiting older, noisier aircraft and investing in new, quieter planes.
And the fact that “noise is the bad guy” is slowly reaching medical professionals, says Münzel. He is currently working with the European Society of Cardiology to formally acknowledge that chronic noise increases people’s risk of cardiovascular disease – just like smoking or high cholesterol do.
There’s some evidence that building resilience could partially offset the negative effects of chronic noise, Münzel suggests. And there are things everyone can do to keep their heart healthy, Captur says. “Not smoking, not vaping, eating healthy, exercising regularly, watching your weight and protecting your sleep. Sometimes it’s small things like wearing earplugs.”