Research carried out for the EU-funded programme HYENA (HYpertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports) shows increased risk of hypertension for people living near airports, reports "Science for Environmental Policy" newsletter on its 14 April issue.

The research was carried out for 4 years on people living near 6 European airports. According to “Science for Environmental Policy”, a news service provided by the European Commission, the study highlights that an increase in night-time aeroplane noise of only 10 decibels increases the risk of blood pressure by 14 per cent. The research also shed light on the cost for public finances as noise pollution would increase cardiovascular diseases incidence.

With an ever expanding demand for plane traffic, noise pollution is becoming a salient health issue for policy makers with, for instance, the Green Paper on noise pollution and a Directive on environmental noise.

For more information:
  Access HYENA Study website
  Access European Commission webpage on noise legislation
  Access “Science for Environmental Policy” webpage
  Access article entitled “Sleeping near airports is bad for your health ” from 17th April 2008, Issue 103