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Health impact assessment of road traffic noise exposure – A case study of a pre- and post-densification scenario

Kristoffer, Mattisson LU orcid ; Erin, Flanagan LU orcid ; Anna, Oudin LU orcid and Ebba, Malmqvist LU orcid (2023)
Abstract (Swedish)
BACKGROUND AND AIM: In many places worldwide there is an ongoing urbanization, often achieved through densification. An increased number of inhabitants in an area often leads to both increased traffic and placement of new buildings closer to roads, and thus increased population exposure to road traffic noise. The aim of the study was to estimate and compare the health impacts of road traffic noise exposure for an urban area pre- and post-densification. METHOD: Noise at the façade of residential buildings within the area of Drottninghög located in the city of Helsingborg, Southern Sweden, was simulated using the Nordic prediction method for road traffic and exposure assessed for all people living in the area Geographical Information Systems... (More)
BACKGROUND AND AIM: In many places worldwide there is an ongoing urbanization, often achieved through densification. An increased number of inhabitants in an area often leads to both increased traffic and placement of new buildings closer to roads, and thus increased population exposure to road traffic noise. The aim of the study was to estimate and compare the health impacts of road traffic noise exposure for an urban area pre- and post-densification. METHOD: Noise at the façade of residential buildings within the area of Drottninghög located in the city of Helsingborg, Southern Sweden, was simulated using the Nordic prediction method for road traffic and exposure assessed for all people living in the area Geographical Information Systems software SoundPLAN. Health impact assessments based on exposure-response functions from The Worlds Health Organisation was calculated including road traffic noise annoyance and adverse sleep disturbance. RESULTS: A large proportion (70%) of the population was found to be exposed above the health-based guideline value of Lden 53 dB(A) in pre-densification scenario. In the post-densification scenario this proportion increased even further to 85% of the population. The proportion of annoyed in the pre-densification scenario were 5.8% compared to 11.2% in the post-densification and the proportion adversely sleep disturbed 2.8% respectively 4.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Densifying the area in accordance with the municipal planned strategy will considerably increase the proportion of annoyed and sleep disturbed part of the population living in the area. Health is an important aspect in creating a sustainable city and urban planning initiatives needs to be more ambitious. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
DOI
10.1289/isee.2023.VO-054
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
doi: 10.1289/isee.2023.VO-054
id
3cf4117e-d6aa-4d1c-90a5-d3c418039d2e
date added to LUP
2024-08-28 12:38:10
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:20:42
@misc{3cf4117e-d6aa-4d1c-90a5-d3c418039d2e,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND AND AIM: In many places worldwide there is an ongoing urbanization, often achieved through densification. An increased number of inhabitants in an area often leads to both increased traffic and placement of new buildings closer to roads, and thus increased population exposure to road traffic noise. The aim of the study was to estimate and compare the health impacts of road traffic noise exposure for an urban area pre- and post-densification. METHOD: Noise at the façade of residential buildings within the area of Drottninghög located in the city of Helsingborg, Southern Sweden, was simulated using the Nordic prediction method for road traffic and exposure assessed for all people living in the area Geographical Information Systems software SoundPLAN. Health impact assessments based on exposure-response functions from The Worlds Health Organisation was calculated including road traffic noise annoyance and adverse sleep disturbance. RESULTS: A large proportion (70%) of the population was found to be exposed above the health-based guideline value of Lden 53 dB(A) in pre-densification scenario. In the post-densification scenario this proportion increased even further to 85% of the population. The proportion of annoyed in the pre-densification scenario were 5.8% compared to 11.2% in the post-densification and the proportion adversely sleep disturbed 2.8% respectively 4.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Densifying the area in accordance with the municipal planned strategy will considerably increase the proportion of annoyed and sleep disturbed part of the population living in the area. Health is an important aspect in creating a sustainable city and urban planning initiatives needs to be more ambitious.}},
  author       = {{Kristoffer, Mattisson and Erin, Flanagan and Anna, Oudin and Ebba, Malmqvist}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  title        = {{Health impact assessment of road traffic noise exposure – A case study of a pre- and post-densification scenario}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/isee.2023.VO-054}},
  doi          = {{10.1289/isee.2023.VO-054}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}