ACTIVITY DISTURBANCES CAUSED BY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL NOISES

An analysis was made of data obtained in investigations performed on annoyance reactions due to noise from aircraft,trains and road traffic. The aims of the analysis were to study the covariation between the extent of activity disturbances and general annoyance, to compare different noise sources with reference to activity disturbances caused, and to study the relation between the extent of annoyance reactions and noise exposure. The activity disturbances studied were speech interference effects adverse effects on rest and sleep and awakening. Common to all three noise sources is that the extent of all activity disturbances increased with increased general annoyance. However, the rank order between the effects was different. In areas exposed to aircraft and train noise, speech interference was the effect reported by the largest proportion of respondents. Road traffic noise primarily disturbed rest and sleep. As regards train noise, it was demonstrated that although the extent of activity disturbances was comparatively high, the extent of general annoyance was lower on the whole than the extent of activity disturbances. These differences in responses may be due to differences in attitudes towards the noise sources. Even though actual noise-related effects were experienced, the degree of subjective annoyance may be determined by the type of noise source causing the effects. The dose-response relationship established for aircraft and train noise demonstrated that the extent of general annoyance varied although the noise conditions were similar. The differences were further accentuated with increasing db(a) levels. The results from the analysis demonstrated that the use of response indices based upon different activity interferences must take into account the variations that are present between different noise sources. Weighting all activity interference into an index and applying this universally for all noises will decrease the precision of the response description and hence influence the accuracy of the dose-response relationship. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0022460X
• Corporate Authors:

  Academic Press Incorporated

  24-28 Oval Road
  London NW1 7DX,   England 
• Authors:
  • Aahrlin, U
• Publication Date: 1988-12-22

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 599-603
• Serial:
  • Journal of Sound and Vibration
  • Volume: 127
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0022-460X
  • EISSN: 1095-8568
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0022460X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft; Attitudes; Human factors; Railroad trains; Sound; Speech; Traffic
• ITRD Terms: 1258: Aircraft; 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9098: Communication; 2222: Fatigue (human); 6748: Sound; 755: Traffic; 1268: Train
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00493233
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1990 12:00AM