LETTERS TO EDITORS
Traffic Noise Emissions
and Myocardial Infarction Risk
R. Grazuleviciene 1,2*, J. Lekaviciute 1, G. Mozgeris 1,3, S. Merkevicius 3, J. Deikus 3
More details
Hide details
1 Vytautas Magnus University, Department of Environmental Sciences, Daukanto str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania
2 Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Sukileliu 17, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania
3 Lithuanian University of Agriculture, Studentu 7, Kaunas, Lithuania
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2004;13(6):737-741
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
We examined the possible association between road traffic noise in residential areas and myocardial infarction
(MI) incidence. We conducted an ecological study among 25-64-year-old men in the general population
of Kaunas city. The study comprised all first time MI cases among stable residents of Kaunas treated
in hospitals in 1999-2001 (518). We measured traffic-related noise levels at the 117 electoral districts and
linked these levels to residential addresses using Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. In
daytime period (10-12 hr, 10 min.) traffic-related noise emission fluctuated between 58 dB(A) to 82 dB(A)
and about 18% of citizens were exposed to noise level exceeding 65 dB(A) in their residential district. The
age-adjusted MI incidence per 1,000 increased by increasing noise exposure. In the total group of 25-64
years old men the incidence tended to increase from 2.07 in the 1st (lowest) exposure area to 2.57 in the 4th
(highest) exposure area (Risk ratio (RR) 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76-2.32). In the subgroup of
55-64 years old men, the risk ratio increased by 92% (RR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.00-3.67). Our results indicate a
relationship between traffic noise exposure and MI incidence among 55-64-year-old men.