Socioeconomic inequalities in burden of disease due to traffic noise in Norway and Denmark

Abstract Background Environmental noise is linked to adverse health effects, including annoyance, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular and metabolic impacts. While lower socioeconomic status (SES) is often associated with higher noise exposure, this link may vary depending on residential patterns. The influence of SES on the burden of disease (BoD) attributable to noise has not been thoroughly explored. Objectives To assess the relationship between SES and road traffic noise exposure and estimate the associated BoD in Norway and Denmark. Methods Road traffic noise (Lden) was modelled at the residential address using national models based on the Nordic prediction method. The study included all residents aged over 18, covering three levels: national, metropolitan (Greater Oslo/Copenhagen), and capital cities (Oslo/Copenhagen). SES indicators-education, income (low, medium, high), and housing type-were obtained from national statistics. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyse noise and SES associations. BoD was assessed as Years Lived with Disability (YLD) due to high noise annoyance (HA), using WHO exposure-response functions and disability weights. Results Lower SES, particularly lower income, was consistently linked to higher noise exposure in both countries. Apartment dwellers had markedly higher exposure than those in single houses. In Denmark, high-income groups had lower YLDs due to HA (up to -20% in Greater Copenhagen) compared to low-income groups. Medium-income groups also showed reductions (-6.6% to -11.3%). In Norway, differences were smaller; YLDs were slightly higher among medium-income groups in Oslo and Greater Oslo (+4.6% and +5.4%). Conclusions This study is among the first to estimate the BoD attributable to road traffic noise across SES groups. Results suggest that social inequalities in noise exposure may lead to disparities in disease burden, particularly in Denmark. Further analyses will explore additional outcomes. Key messages • Lower socioeconomic status and living in apartments were linked to higher road traffic noise exposure in both Norway and Denmark. • Social inequalities in noise exposure may contribute to disparities in disease burden, with stronger effects observed in Denmark than in Norway.