LONGITUDINAL EFFECTS OF A SUDDEN CHANGE IN AIRCRAFT NOISE EXPOSURE ON ANNOYANCE AND SLEEP DISTURBANCE AROUND AMSTERDAM AIRPORT

The opening of a new runway at Amsterdam Airport in February 2003 offered an excellent opportunity to study the longitudinal effects of a significant change in noise exposure on annoyance, sleep disturbance and self reported health status. A panel study was carried out as part of an ongoing monitoring program: the Health Impact Assessment Schiphol Airport. To create contrast, participants were selected based on their expected change in noise exposure (Lden). Once a year, the 640 members of the panel filled out a postal questionnaire in the period 2002-2005, resulting in 4 measurements. An increase in the annual average exposure to aircraft noise resulted in an additional increase in severe annoyance, irrespective of the actual noise level. This 'overreaction' did already occur when noise exposure levels increased by less than 3 dB(A). The effect is driven by changes in noise alone, as adjustment for non-acoustical factors did not diminish the relationship. The 'overreaction' gradually decreases within 2 years, although the results are not conclusive. There was no indication of an overreaction in severe sleep disturbance or self reported health status due to the sudden change in noise exposure.