Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health

Basner M, Babisch W, Davis A, et al. · Lancet 383(9925):1325–1332 · 2014

Key finding

Night-time noise fragments sleep and raises cardiovascular risk even when people don't consciously wake.

Citation

Authors: Basner M, Babisch W, Davis A, et al.
Published in: Lancet 383(9925):1325–1332
Year: 2014
Topic: Sound

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Related guides

Sound: aim for ~35 dB, and hate inconsistency

Related studies

Night noise guidelines for EuropeRecommends outdoor night noise below 40 dB (L_night) to protect health; effects begin around 30–35 dB indoors.Noise as a sleep aidEvidence for white/pink noise as a sleep aid is weak and low quality — it can mask inconsistent sounds, but keep it quiet.Environmental noise and sleep disturbancesReview linking traffic and environmental noise with awakenings, sleep-stage changes and next-day effects.

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Educational summary of published research, not medical advice. Screening scores are not diagnoses. If a score is elevated or you feel unwell, talk to a clinician.