Objektive Bestimmung der 24-Stunden-Gesamtlärmbelastung:eine Querschnittsstudie in Bayern

Noise can affect well-being and performance of individuals and might be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. To date most epidemiological studies considered exposure from a single source of noise. The EU Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) requires a summative measurement of ambient noise. This study aimed to capture the participants' exposure to environmental noise by means of personal noise dosimetry.Children (n=628, participation=61%, age 8-12 years), adolescents (n=632, participation=58%, age 13-17 years) and adults (n=482, participation=40%, age 18-65 years) were selected randomly from the population registry of 4 Bavarian towns and were invited to participate in a 24-h measurement using noise dosimetry. Noise exposures during day and night were analyzed separately. In addition, predictors of noise exposure were assessed.For daytime noise exposure mean±standard deviation were in children 80.0±5.8dB(A), in adolescents 76.0±6.2dB(A), in adults 72.1±6.1dB(A) (pANOVA