Continuous noise from traffic makes many urbanites depressed

Constant honking, permanent sound, cars squealing and sirens: Many people suffer from noise, especially as they age. Scientists at the Center for Urban Epidemiology have now published a study suggesting a link between depression and street noise.
The fact that continuous noise caused by road traffic can also trigger depressive moods has now been demonstrated for the first time worldwide in a large long-term study. Scientists from the Center for Urban Epidemiology (CUE) of the Medical Faculty came to the realization during their work at the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study at the UK Essen.

Street noise makes you depressed. Picture: lenets_tan - fotolia

Among other things, the study focuses on environmental influences that can affect the health of the heart. But the researchers also discovered the connection between these environmental factors and depressive symptoms. The international science magazine Environmental Health Perspectives is currently reporting on this.

That noise is not only unpleasant, but can also make you sick, is well known. Several studies have already shown that noise, e.g. Causes heart disease. Evidence that he also burdened the soul, found now in a large population-based study from the Ruhr. The data were examined by 3,300 participants and participants between the ages of 45 and 75 years.

The cities of Bochum, Essen and Mülheim / R were examined on the basis of noise maps. The result: study participants living on roads with heavy traffic noise developed more depressive symptoms over a five-year period than those living in comparatively quiet streets. The study found that the risk increased by about 25 percent for both averaged 24-hour and night noise levels above 55 and 50 decibels respectively. It is also striking that especially people with less education are more sensitive to noise.

"The reasons for this can only be speculated at the present time. It could be related to the fact that people with low education are usually more exposed to stressors. Due to the large number of stressing factors, the resistance could be reduced. However, this must be investigated in a targeted way in the future, "says Ester Orban from CUE. She also emphasizes that "the findings reiterate the importance of noise control to public health."

The Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study is a research study that has been regularly investigating and interviewing people from the Ruhr area (Essen, Bochum, Mülheim / R) since the year 2000. In addition to aspects of cardiovascular disease, the scientists also investigate what influence the built city on people's health could have. Around 4,800 citizens are involved in this long-term project. (Sb / pm)