The University of Oulu in Finland recently released a press statement indicating that a study involving the university has found a correlation between nighttime traffic noise and changes in multiple blood markers, which are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic health issues.
The statement noted that a large number of people live in noisy environments for extended periods. Previous studies have linked traffic noise to diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, but exactly how noise affects the human body biologically remains unclear. This study provides new evidence showing that long-term nighttime noise exposure is associated with changes in certain blood markers, which may be precursors to related diseases.
Researchers analyzed data from 270,000 adults in the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland. Using 'noise maps' released by national authorities, they modeled traffic noise conditions and matched them to participants’ places of residence. The research team tested various metabolic biomarkers in participants’ blood samples and analyzed the association between nighttime noise exposure and metabolic changes.
The researchers found that when nighttime traffic noise levels reached 50 decibels, certain blood indicators in those exposed to this noise began to change. The higher the noise level, the more pronounced these changes became. When noise levels exceeded 55 decibels, measurements such as total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (the “bad” cholesterol) rose noticeably.
The researchers pointed out that the biological evidence uncovered by this study supports the link between traffic noise and cardiovascular disease and related metabolic disorders. Environmental noise should not be viewed merely as a nuisance—it may constitute a genuine health risk. Authorities can help reduce nighttime traffic noise through urban planning and traffic management optimization, noise mitigation measures, and architectural design, creating quieter sleep environments and reducing potential health hazards.
The related research findings have been published in the US journal Environmental Research.