International Open Access Journal of Prevention and Research in Medicine
Director Prof. Francesco Tomei

Citation: D’Alessio A, Midulla G. Noise's effects on  individual health. Prevent Res, published on line 20 Dec. 2013, P&R Public 60. Available from: 
http://www.preventionandresearch.com/.doi:10.7362/2240-2594.147.2013

The sound is the transmission of mechanical energy in a fluid for the waves generated by a unit vibrant. The sound waves generated by a unit vibrant in a gas such as air may be considered as pressure waves. The physical characteristics of sound are frequency, intensity, and timbre. Noise is an element that derives from environmental stress and which has a significant impact on the health and physical well-being, mental and social health. The noise sources can originate from internal sources of indoor or external sources related to air and rail traffic, industry, public works and discos. The main source of external noise, however, is represented by road traffic and nearly 120 million people are subjected to levels of road traffic noise exceeding 55 dBA. The noise is guilty of damage like hearing loss and deafness. The damage caused by noise can be acute when it is realized in a short due to an especially intense stimulation (burst, explosion, etc..), and chronic type when it evolves during the years as a result of prolonged exposure to high levels of noise. The risk of developing hearing loss is not only related to the workplace, but it is a phenomenon on an international scale growing as socioacusia, caused by exposure to noise in the living environment, which is assuming a certain relevance in most industrialized countries, primarily as a result of exposure to noise during recreational activities such as listening  music at high volume, practice of some sports and frequenting discos. Sounds and noises can cause auditory and extra-auditory effects. The auditory effects occur with irreversible damage of the hearing organ which stop to progress when ceased the noise’s exposure. The extra-auditory effects involving the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and gastrointestinal apparatus and show also neuropsychiatric phenomena. The noise’s effects on sleep are characterized by difficulty to fall asleep and many   nocturnal awakenings. These conditions will determine the protracted decline in the quality of sleep, general malaise and fatigue. These stressful conditions in turn can lead to the risk of developing hypertension and myocardial stroke. It is necessary in these cases to make an assessment of the noise’s effects on sleep. We may use subjective methods based on the use of questionnaires and not subjective represented by specific instrumental tests (polysomnography and actigraphy).

Key words: noise, hypoacusia, auditory effects, extra-auditory effects