Road traffic noise, noise-sensitivity and Subjective Health Complaints (SHC) in an urban population in Norway

Associations between traffic noise and subjectively reported health have previously been investigated without finding support for such relationship. Noise-sensitivity has been proposed as having a mediating or an additive effect on noise-health relationship. This study investigates the relationship between road traffic noise, noise-sensitivity and Subjective Health Complaints (SHC). A sample of 2551 people in and around Oslo in Norway exposed to road traffic noise was studied in a cross-sectional survey. The individual answered on a self-reported questionnaire which was combined with noise exposure outside most exposed façade of the dwelling and analyzed in a linear regression model. The results showed an association between noise exposure and SHC before and after adjusting for potential confounders. However, the association was only significant for the musculoskeletal complaints. Noise-sensitivity was found to be a main and not effect-modifying variable, and we speculate - using stress-theory - if some people tend to be more sensitive towards noise and report higher degree of SHC