Aircraft noise affects recovery of patients

Health-damaging aircraft noise at the University Hospital in Mainz

08/16/2013

Numerous people in Germany are exposed to so much noise in everyday life that they can bring health problems. A recent report on aircraft noise pollution at the Mainz University Hospital has now shown that the patients could be additionally endangered in their health due to the very high noise levels on the grounds of the University Medical Center.

The measurements presented by the State Environment Office Rhineland-Palatinate and the University Medical Center Mainz on Thursday, the mobile aircraft noise measurement station set up since February 2013, registered peak values ​​of up to 76 decibels (dB) at night. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are „At outdoor averaging levels above 40 dB (A), harmful health effects can be measured at night“, explained the President of the State Environment Office Rhineland-Palatinate, Dr. med. Stefan Hill, together with the Deputy Medical Board of the Mainz University Medical Center, Professor Karl Lackner and the Director of the II. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic, Professor Thomas Münzel. For the patients in Mainz University Hospital, the aircraft noise burden could bring a significant delay in recovery, so the fear of the experts.

Maximum levels of aircraft noise are reached during the night
According to the data of the University Medical Center in Mainz, the mobile aircraft noise measurement station „For the months of February, March and April 2013, an average of around 4,300 aircraft noise events per month“ It should be remembered here that the movements of the aircraft generally increase significantly during the holiday season. The maximum peak recorded the measuring station between five and six o'clock in the morning on April 27 with a considerable 76.5 decibels. Usually „the maximum levels of overflights were between 60 and 65 decibels“, reports the University Medical Center Mainz. Particularly high maximum levels and thus very loud aircraft noise events were often observed in the morning hours between five and eight o'clock, whereby deviations of the measured values „also through the different wind directions and the corresponding flight routes“ according to the experts. During the day, the range of measured values ​​reached 34 to 53 decibels for west and 45 to 54 decibels for east operating direction. For the night, the averaging levels in the west operating direction were between 19 and 46 decibels and in the east operating direction between 37 and 45 decibels.

Averaged noise pollution leads to distortion
Since averaging levels are used as the basis for calculating aircraft noise, meaning that one-off peak loads are averaged over a longer period of time, the legal requirements for many airports remain in place, although noise from residents and other stakeholders is already perceived as extremely unpleasant. As an example, the alarm clock is called, from which most people wake up every morning. If the noise of the alarm clock averaged over an hour or the night, nobody could wake up from it. This is a weak point in the current legal requirements, which has been massively criticized for years by the aircraft noise opponents nationwide.

Every two to three minutes an airplane
About the Mainz University Hospital were the recommendations of the World Health Authorities „exceeded for reasonable noise levels on numerous days. „According to Weisenau and Laubenheim, the location of university medicine is the third most heavily polluted station in the country in terms of noise levels“, explained the President of the State Office for the Environment, Water Management and Trade Inspection Rhineland-Palatinate, Dr. med. Stefan Hill. Such high averaging levels are achieved by the high number of flight movements. In March 2013, 5,026 incidents were recorded by the Aircraft Noise Measurement Station. „On days with east weather conditions this meant an overflight every two to three minutes“, reports the University Medical Center Mainz.

Patients are additionally affected by the aircraft noise
„We must assume that patients who suffer from cardiovascular disease, or have already suffered a heart attack and stroke, are further endangered by the very high levels of noise measured on the campus.“, explained Professor Thomas Münzel, Director of the II. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic of the University Medical Center Mainz. „In particular, the high noise levels in the marginal hours from 22 to 23 clock and 5 to 6 clock worried me, as in these times typically accumulated heart attacks and strokes occur“, Prof. Münzel continues.

Significant reduction in aircraft noise required
The Deputy Medical Board of the University Medical Center Mainz, Prof. Dr. med. Karl Lackner, expressed concern about the detected aircraft noise. „University medicine is primarily committed to the well-being of its patients. Especially for seriously ill patients of all ages, it has been proven that noise pollution is detrimental to recovery“, emphasized Prof. Lackner and added: „ For this reason, we strongly demand a clear relief of the area of ​​university medicine with all clinics in Mainz and expect in view of the disturbing current measurement results that all possibilities for active sound insulation are used - especially at the most sensitive times.“ Whether the demand will be heard, however, remains open. (Fp)

Also read about aircraft noise:
Night-time noise increases the blood pressure in the long term
Study on the noise pollution at the new major airport
Increased cardiovascular risk due to noise
Aircraft noise increases heart attack risk

Picture credits: Dieter Hopf