Aircraft noise effects in vulnerable populations

Vulnerable population groups (e.g. children, elderly people, shift workers) have not been the focus of investigations into the effects of transportation noise for a long time. In two field studies in the vicinity of Cologne/Bonn Airport, we therefore investigated the effects of nocturnal aircraft noise on sleep as recorded with polysomnography and self-reported sleep quality as well as short-term annoyance in 51 primary school children (8-10 years) and 44 elderly people (55 - 76 years). In a laboratory study, the effects of aircraft noise on the same outcome variables were compared between 17 participants who slept during the day (19 - 36 years) and 16 participants who slept at night (18 - 35 years). This article provides an overview of the results of these studies in vulnerable groups. Noise effects were more pronounced in participants who slept during the day than in those who slept at night. The findings for children and older people were less consistent and showed effects of nocturnal aircraft noise either on sleep (children) or on self-reported sleep quality and annoyance only (elderly people). Results of the vulnerable groups are discussed in comparison to findings in middle-aged adults.