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Noise pollution may increase CV risk
Noise caused by transportation disrupts the body on the cellular level, contributing to the development of CV risks such as CAD, arterial hypertension, stroke and HF, according to a review published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology.
“With regard to understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms, a growing body of evidence finds that noise is associated with oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, autonomic imbalance and metabolic abnormalities, potentiating not only the adverse impact of CV risk factors, such as arterial hypertension and diabetes, but also contributing to the progression of atherosclerosis and increased susceptibility to CV events,” Thomas Münzel, MD, from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, and colleagues wrote.
According to the researchers, the global burden of disease has shifted from communicable disease to noncommunicable disease in the past decade. Although focus has primarily been placed on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of traditional heart disease risk factors, however, recent studies suggest that risk factors in the physical environment may facilitate the development of CVD.
Researchers analyzed translational noise studies of the molecular mechanisms potentially leading to impaired vascular function, epidemiologic evidence of noise-induced CVD and the non-auditory effects of noise and their effect on the CV system to further study the link between traffic noise and CVD.
According to Münzel and colleagues, a stress response is induced by noise and characterized by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and increased levels of hormones, which may produce sequelae leading to vascular damage.
Mitigating noise pollution, such as insulation of buildings, may reduce exposure to outdoor noise, but is not cost-effective, the researchers wrote.
“Thus, because the percentage of the population exposed to detrimental levels of transportation noise is rising, new developments and legislation to reduce noise are important for public health,” Münzel and colleagues wrote.
Future research should focus on magnitude and response to coexposure of noise and air pollution, synergistic effects of both on BP and metabolic risk, effect of noise exposure on air pollution exposure and vice versa, the effect of noise on circadian rhythms and the effects of noise on lifestyle factors, the authors wrote. – by Dave Quaile
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.