A study revealed that exposure to traffic noise is linked to cardiovascular health risks

A European study, published in the Journal of Environmental Research, found that exposure to road traffic noise at night is linked to changes in the blood, leading to Cholesterol aggravation and cardiovascular risks.

The researchers looked at data from the UK Biobank, the Rotterdam Study, and the 1966 Northern Finland birth cohort, including more than 272,000 adults over the age of 30, according to a press release.

Nighttime road noise exposure in the homes of all participants was estimated based on national noise maps. The researchers also took blood samples to measure the participants’ metabolic biomarkers of the disease, and then mapped the relationship between nighttime noise levels and the presence of the biomarkers.

Exposure to loud noise was associated with increased concentrations of cholesterol-related biomarkers. (Istock)

The study found that people who were exposed to it Louder noise At night – especially sounds above 55 decibels – they showed changes in 48 different substances in their blood. Twenty of these associations “remained strong” across all groups.

Exposure to loud noise has been associated with increased concentrations of cholesterol-related biomarkers, particularly LDL cholesterol and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL). And unsaturated fatty acids.

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As noise levels increased, starting at about 50 decibels, cholesterol markers rose steadily, the statement said.

The researchers concluded that this study “provides evidence that exposure to nighttime road traffic noise of 50 dB and above is associated with changes in blood cholesterol and lipids in adults.”

Researchers have noted a link between traffic noise and cardiovascular disease. (Istock)

Study co-author Yiyan He, a doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu in Finland, noted that in this type of research, effect sizes are expected to be small, and environmental exposures such as traffic noise are “usually modest.”

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“Despite this, we observed strong and statistically consistent associations across several biomarkers, particularly those related to LDL and IDL lipoproteins,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“We also identified a clear exposure-response pattern starting at around 50 dB, suggesting that metabolic changes become more pronounced as noise levels increase.”

This is consistent with public health Yiyan He added that the World Health Organization recommends lowering nighttime noise limits by about 40 to 45 decibels.

“This finding may explain the relationship between traffic noise and cardiovascular disease,” the researchers wrote. (Istock)

“The 55 dB level is often used as a temporary measure associated with significant noise annoyance and Sleep disturbance“In our study, we observed correlations not only at 55 dB, but also indications of effects at around 50 dB,” she said.

The strength and consistency of the cholesterol-related associations was surprising, as these changes are usually “subtle.”

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“Instead, we found consistent associations across multiple large European populations, strengthening confidence that the findings may reflect true biological patterns,” Yiyan He continued. “We were also interested to see that the effects were minimal below about 50 dB, suggesting a possible threshold-like pattern.”

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The researcher indicated that these results were consistent between genders, levels of education, and educational level Obesity condition.

The study was limited to white Europeans, which was a limitation. There was also a lack of information about fasting status in the UK biobank.

The changes in cholesterol levels were more serious than the researchers expected. (Istock)

“Fasting can affect the levels of some metabolites, especially fatty acids,” Yiyan He said. “However, based on UK Biobank documents, less than 10% of participants were fasting for at least eight hours, and our main findings focused on cholesterol-related biomarkers, which are generally less sensitive to cholesterol.” Short-term fasting“.

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The researchers also lacked information about bedroom location, exposure to indoor noise, and time spent at home.

“These factors may lead to misclassification of non-differential exposure,” Yiyan He said. “In addition, noise exposure estimates were based on participants’ temporary residential addresses at the time of blood sampling, without regard to length of residence.”

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“Many of these limitations tend to bias the results toward the null, so the consistent associations we observed remain noteworthy.”

Experts recommend taking measures to reduce traffic noise at night. (Istock)

Based on this recent research, Yiyan He noted that nighttime noise is “Health related Exposure”, not just “nuisance”.

“Our findings suggest that night-time traffic noise may have a subtle but persistent impact on metabolic health,” she said. “Although changes in any one individual’s cholesterol and lipid levels are small, traffic noise affects a very large number of people, which means this is likely to happen.” Public health impact “It could be big.”

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The researcher recommends measures such as improving sound insulation, using noise reduction strategies and placing bedrooms on the quieter side of the house when possible.

“Because sleep is the main pathway linking noise to health, protecting the sleep environment during the night is especially important,” she added.

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