Invited Perspective: Diabetes and Road Traffic Noise at the Most and Least Exposed Façade

Epidemiologic studies have linked transportation noise to increased morbidity and mortality, particularly for cardiovascular outcomes. However, studies investigating metabolic outcomes such as diabetes are limited and have focused only on noise exposures estimated for the loudest residential façade.We aimed to examine the influence of long-term residential exposure to transportation noise at the loudest and quietest residential façades and the risk for type 2 diabetes.Road traffic and railway noise exposures (Lden) at the most and least exposed façades were estimated for all dwellings in Denmark during 1990-2017. Aircraft noise was estimated in 5-dB categories. Ten-year time-weighted mean noise exposures were estimated forHazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for type 2 diabetes in association with 10-dB increases in 10-y mean road traffic noise at the most and least exposed façades, respectively, were 1.05 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.05) and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.10). Following subsequent adjustment for fine particulate matter [particulate matterLong-term exposure to road, railway, and possibly aircraft traffic noise was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in a nationwide cohort of Danish adults. Our findings suggest that diabetes should be included when estimating the burden of disease due to transportation noise. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9146.