Selection and evaluation of exposure-effect-relationships for health impact assessment in the field of noise and health

This report is a background document that can be used to assess the health impact attributable to noise in the Netherlands. To this end the available exposure-effect-relationships in the field of noise and health are reviewed and evaluated, using data published in the epidemiological literature as well as previous reviews. Their applicability for assessment in the Netherlands was demonstrated in case-studies. Only the relationships describing the association between noise and annoyance, sleep disturbance and cardiovascular disease are considered to be suitable for health impact assessment purposes. Only the relationships for which the evidence for an association between exposure and effect was considered sufficient and which were derived either by means of a quantitative summary of published data or a re-analysis of individual data based on primary studies, were selected. Finally, recommendations were made for the applicability of these exposure-effect relationships regarding the health impact of noise exposure