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Behavioral Effects
Buy Quiet Program
See also Health Effects, Sleep Disturbance.
Federal Noise Research in Health Effects, 1978-80
Carl Modig; John Moore; Jack Shampan
December 1980
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This review of federally sponsored research on the effects of noise on health updates a previous survey, and compares present trends in research in each research category and by federal agency. The following categories of research are covered: Nonauditory Physiologic Responses; Noise Effects on Sleep; Individual and Community Response; Behavioral, Social, and Performance Effects; Communication Interference; Noise Environment Determination and Exposure Characterization; and Human Response to Noise Concomitant with Vibration. Over 250 research projects were sponsored by twenty Departments, Institutes, and Agencies during the 1978-80 period. The following information is provided for each project: title; objective; description; summary of findings; where findings are published; period of performance; name and address of investigator; name, address and telephone number of agency contact person; fiscal year funding data. In comparing present research with previous recommendations made by an Interagency Panel, it was determined that overall expenditures had increased by about 15 percent (compared with the previous period) instead of the recommended 40 percent; and that in general, the Panel's recommendations have not been implemented in the priority areas.
Short Term Effects of Aircraft Overflights on Outdoor Recreationists in Three Wildernesses
Sanford Fidell; Laura Silvati; Barbara Tabachnick; Richard Howe; Karl S. Pearsons; Richard C. Knopf; James Gramann; Thomas Buchanan
April 1992
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This report describes an on-site social survey of te short term effects of aircraft overflights on visitors to three Forest Service wildernesses. Two prior reports (Fidell, Tabachnick, and Silvati, 1990a and 1990b) contain the detailed rationale for this study. A companion report (Tabachnick, Fidell, Silvati, Knopf, Gramann, and Buchanan, 1991) describes a related telephone interview study. These studies were undertaken principally to support preparation of a Forest Service report to Congress mandated by Section 5(a) of Public Law 100-91. Three Forest Service wildernesses were purposively selected for study on the basis of two primary and five secondary criteria. The major criteria were levels of visitor use and aircraft overflight exposure. Wildernesses were also selected to provide a range of ambient sound levels, ecotypes, visitor activities, day and overnight use, and exposure to helicopters as well as fixed wing aircraft. Interviewing was conducted during peak visitor seasons at three wildernesses (Golden Trout in California, Cohutta in Georgia, and Superstition in Arizona). Attempts were made to exhaustively interview visitors during the data collection periods in each wilderness. Personal interviews of visitors and extensive acoustic measurements were conducted simultaneously. Visitors were interviewed individually and in groups by means of a short, verbally administered questionnaire. A total of 920 interviews was completed: 185 in Golden Trout, 343 in Cohutta and 392 in Superstition Wildernesses. The lowest completion rate was 96%. No reliable differences were observed between visitors who granted interviews and those who did not. Respondents in the three wildernesses were similar in gender distribution, degree of overall enjoyment of their visits, and intention to return to the wilderness. Respondents interviewed in different wildernesses differed with respect to all other variables investigated, including age distribution, size of group, number of previous visits, activities, aspects of their visits they liked most and least, type of aircraft noticed, annoyance due to the sight and sound of aircraft, and type of aircraft found most annoying to hear. Despite difficulties in estimating recreationists' personal noise exposure, it was possible to construct a relationship between estimated aircraft noise exposure and annoyance due to the sound of aircraft.This relationship was stronger than that observed between self-reports of observed number of aircraft overflights and annoyance, and that between exposure to aircraft and reported overall enjoyment. Annoyance due to aircraft noise, although closely related to exposure, was not reliably predictable from a set of nonaircraft-related items. Noticeability of aircraft was not related to visitor activities. Once they noticed aircraft, visitors engaged in water- or stock-related activities tended to be more annoyed by aircraft overflights than visitors who did not engage in these activities. Overall enjoyment of visits to wildernesses was unrelated to any other variable, as was intention to revisit the wilderness. Because virtually all respondents reported that they enjoyed their visits and intended to return, such measures offer little opportunity to assess the impact of aircraft overflights on recreationists. These results indicate that annoyance is a more practical measure of the impact of aircraft overflights on recreationists than more global measures of satisfaction or behavioral intent. Current means of measureing exposure cannot, however, support the precise et cost-effective estimates of dosage-response relationships needed for management purposes.
Laboratory Testing of Predictive Land Use Models: Some Comparisons
Stephen H. Putman
October 1976
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The purpose of the research described here was to compare and evaluate operational land use forecasting models, and to suggest a procedure by which such comparisons and evaluations may be done for such models in the future. A thorough review of available operational models suggested two major types of models to be tested: the EMPIRIC, and the LOWRY derivative models. The method of testing involved two parts. First, the parameters of each model were estimated for a common data base. Second, each model was used to make forecasts of the impact of different "policy" inputs, and the responses of each model to these inputs were compared. The results of the parameter estimating suggest that either model can be made to fit a base period data-set rather well. The lack of any explicit macro-behavioral structure to the EMPIRIC model makes interpretation of its parameters somewhat difficult. DRAM, the LOWRY derivative model which was tested, has a rather clear macro-behavioral structure and wielded parameters consistent with the theory underlying that structure. With regard to the policy tests, EMPIRIC was found to be very insensitive to changes in inputs. DRAM, by contrast, was properly sensitive to all the various policies tested. All in all, the testing of different models on a common data-set was a good method for comparison and evaluation.
Preliminary Estimates of the Health and Welfare Benefits of State and Local Surface Transportation Noise Control Programs
Michael A. Staiano; Robert A. Samis
November 1979
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The actual reduction in traffic noise exposure level for a given control measure can be conceptually considered a function of: the potential level reduction of the control, its applicability, the extent of its enforcement, and the effectiveness of its enforcement. A survey of the available literature yielded a reasonable amount of information regarding the potential level reductions of control measures, a limited amount of information regarding the observed exposure level reductions of control measures, and virtually no information regarding the applicability of controls, the extent of enforcement, or the effectiveness of enforcement. EPA's National Roadway Traffic Noise Exposure Model (NRTNEM) was used as a means of estimating the benefits of various state and local surface transportation noise control measures for the year 1985. Somewhat coarse simulations of the various controls gave the following results: -Various low speed vehicle noise control measures, applied nationwide, roughly halved of the surface transportation noise impact. -Upper estimates of high speed vehicle noise control measures (snow tire regulations and roadway surface treatment) yielded roughly a 2/5 reduction in impact. -The exclusion of noisy vehicles from residential areas, applied to cities with greater than 50,000 people population, has a potential for the reduction of impact by about 1/4. -Motorcycle enforcement resulting in the partial to total elimination of modified motorcycles has the potential for reducing impact between 1/5 to 1/4. -Reducing local speed limits, in cities of greater than 50,000 people population, was estimated to yield a maximum impact reduction of 1/5. -More stringent speed limit enforcement for highways, on a nationwide basis was estimated to have a maximum benefit of about 1/5 impact reduction. Recommendations for future work include refining NRTNEM itself to more realistically describe vehicle behavior at intersections, refining the simulations themselves to yield more accurate estimates (e.g., considering snow tire controls only for "snow states" and their exclusion only for summer months), and the simulation of simultaneous multiple complementary controls. Finally, any estimates must be considered in the light of reasonable expectations for the applicability, effectiveness and the extent of enforcement of control measures. In the absence of a data base for these parameters, sensitivity tests should be conducted.
Five-Year Plan for Effects of Noise on Health
December 1981
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This Plan, a revision of an earlier unpublished "EPA Five-Year Noise Effects Research Plan," is intended to serve as a blueprint for future research by other organizations. In addition to introducing categories of health effects of noise and setting priorities for new research, it includes detailed plans for the following categories: nonauditory physiologic effects, particularly, cardiovascular effects; sleep disturbance; individual and community response; noise-induced hearing loss behavioral, social, and performance effects; and communication interference. Each plan proceeds from what is known, the research priorities, and results of recent research to arrive at a detailed plan including Multi-Component Research Initiatives.
The Public Health Effects of Community Noise
Carol Scheibner Pennenga
May 1987
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Noise is "any loud, discordant or disagreeable sound" according to Webster's Dictionary (15, p.1). Another definition would be "unwanted sound". Nearly everyone is exposed to noise at some time in their lives, yet the control of noise is not a top priority for most environmental control programs. Community noise is a very widespread problem that can cause serious public health problems. It is well-established that noise can cause hearing loss in the workplace, but what are the other effects of noise outside the workplace? The World Health Organization defines health as a state of physical, mental, and social well being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This paper will examine the evidence for the effects of noise on the cardiovascular system, the performance of tasks, the unborn and children, social behavior and mental health, sleep, speech communication and hearing. The majority of the analysis will be spent on the cardiovascular effects because they are both the most controversial and the most potentially health threatening. It is hoped that this examination of the public health effects of community noise will serve as justification for increased priority and effort in noise control at the community, state and federal levels. In addition to noise control programs, this review should also be used to educate the public on the hazards of community noise exposure and how to protect themselves from it.
Pow! - Noise and Hearing Loss
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The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on Noise and Hearing Loss brought together biomedical and behavioral scientists, health care providers, and the public to address the characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss, acoustic parameters of hazardous noise exposure, individual and age-specific susceptibility, and prevention strategies. Following a day and a half of presentations by experts and discussion by the audience, a consensus panel weighed the evidence and prepared a consensus statement. Among their findings, the panel concluded that sounds of sufficient intensity and duration will damage the ear and result in temporary or permanent hearing loss at any age. Sound levels of less than 75 dB(A) are unlikely to cause permanent hearing loss, while sound levels above 85 dB(A) with exposures of 8 hours per day will produce permanent hearing loss after many years. Current scientific knowledge is inadequate to predict that any particular individual will be safe when exposed to a hazardous noise. Strategies to prevent damage from sound exposure should include the use of individual hearing protection devices, education programs beginning with school-age children, consumer guidance, increased product noise labeling, and hearing conservation programs for occupational settings. The full text of the consensus panel's statement follows.
Acoustical and Vibrational Performance of Floating Floors
Istvan L. Ver
October 1969
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The purpose of the investigations described in this report was to provide better understanding of the acoustical and vibrational performance of floating floors and to use the knowledge gained for the preparation of design charts. The behavior of the sound and vibration transmission of floating floors in the low-frequency and high-frequency range were analyzed separately. In the low-frequency region, the basic resonance frequency, above which excess attenuation becomes possible, was calculated. The high-frequency behavior was investigated by the statistical energy analysis method. In order to evaluate the theoretical results, we measured dynamic stiffness and loss factors of various commonly used resilient mounts. For all measured mounts, the dynamic stiffness was found to be frquency independent and ti increase with increasing static load. The theoretical investigation showed that the lowest possible basic resonance is given by the surface mass of the floating floor and the stiffness of the trapped air cushion. It is demonstrated that properly loaded neoprene, precompressed glass fiber, or cork mounts, being nearly as soft as the trapped air, enable one to approach this basic resonance frequency. Well above the basic resonance frequency, the excess sound transmission loss obtained by adding the floating slab increases with a slope of 30 dB/decade. This large potential excess attenuation can be only partially realized because of unavoidable flanking transmission through the walls common to the source and receiving rooms. A simple engineering procedure is suggested for estimating the flanking transmission.
Effect of Acoustical Engine Enclosures on Truck Cooling System Performance
Robert A. Major; Michael A. Staiano; William H. Benson
January 1981
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The airflow through a truck engine compartment consists of a complex system of series and parallel flow paths. This system can be modeled in terms of a network of equivalent ductwork elements. The detailed description of engine compartment airflow provided by this model can be used as a means of predicting the effect of acoustical engine enclosures when the ductwork element parameters are altered. The initial implementation of this model will require the performance of a number of component and truck wind tunnel tests; this data should be obtained to permit the use of the model. In-service monitoring of either engine or gearbox temperature performance requires the recording 8 to 10 parameters plus clock time for an adequate description of vehicle behavior. This monitoring should be initiated at engine shutdown. A total daily test period of approximately 10 hours is expected. The sampling data rate of 1/min for each parameter is sufficient for monitoring purposes. This monitoring requirement can be met by a relatively inexpensive data logger plus suitable transducer signal conditioning.;
Behavioral and Physiological Correlates of Varying Noise Environments
Lawrence F. Sharp; John F. Swiney; Mickey R. Dansby; Stephen C. Hyatt; Dale E. Schimmel
June 1977
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Eighty male college juniors and seniors were dichotomized into either High or Low Anxiety groups. Each subject experienced a household noise profile under a quiet (50 dBA), intermittent (84 dBA) and continuous (84 dBA) noise condition, while performing either an easy or difficult pursuit tracking task. Heart rate, electromyographic potentials, and tracking error responses were evaluated. Results indicated significant (P<.01) main effects for task difficulty and noise condition and significant (P<.01) interaction effects for task difficulty, noise condition and anxiety level (as measured by the IPAT Self Analysis Form) of subjects. The significant noise effect occurred for the difficult task condition during the second tracking period (which includes transfer of training effects) indicating that factors such as task difficulty, direction of task transfer effects, duration of noise exposure as well as anxiety level of subjects appear to be important variables affecting human psychometer performance in noise environments below 85 dBA. These findings appear to be consistent with previous research which suggests that task difficulty is the variable determining the direction of stress (noise) effects on psychometer performances and the nature of the interaction between stress and anxiety level. The present findings are therefore seen as supporting the concepts of the response interference hypothesis and the inverted-U function between stress and performance.
Pow! - Noise and Hearing Loss - NIH Consensus Development Conference
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The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on Noise and Hearing Loss brought together biomedical and behavioral scientists, health care providers, and the public to address the characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss, acoustic parameters of hazardous noise exposure, individual and age-specific susceptibility, and prevention strategies. Following a day and a half of presentations by experts and discussion by the audience, a consensus panel weighed the evidence and prepared a consensus statement. Among their findings, the panel concluded that sounds of sufficient intensity and duration will damage the ear and result in temporary or permanent hearing loss at any age. Sound levels of less than 75 dB(A) are unlikely to cause permanent hearing loss, while sound levels above 85 dB(A) with exposure of 8 hours per day will produce permanent hearing loss after many years. Current scientific knowledge is inadequate to predict that any particular individual will be safe when exposed to a hazardous noise. Strategies to prevent damage from sound exposure should include the use of individual hearing protection devices, education programs beginning with school-age children, consumer guidance, increased product noise labeling, and hearing conservation programs for occupational settings.
Measures of Noise Level: Their Relative Accuracy in Predicting Objective and Subjective Responses to Noise During Sleep
Jerome S. Lukas
February 1977
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A review of domestic and foreign scientific literature on the effects of noise on human sleep indicates that no sleep disruption can be predicted with good accuracy (correlation coefficients of about 0.80) if the noise descriptor accounts for the frequency-weighted spectrum and the duration of the noise. Units such as EdBA, EPNdB, and SENEL are better predictors than a unit such as maximum dBA. Furthermore, no sleep disruption can be predicted more accurately than arousal or behavioral awakening responses. Some evidence suggests that questionnaires about subjective sleep quality should contain items dealing with the subject's (a) sense of well being on arising, (b) sense of the general quality of his sleep, and (c)estimates on how long it took to fall asleep. Scores on these items can be summed to develop a Composite Sleep Quality measure. Although the amount of evidence is limited, such Composite Sleep Quality is correlated highly (about 0.90) with Composite Noise Rating (CNR) when units of EPNdB or EdBA are used to calculate CNR. Other techniques for calculating the total nighttime noise environment, such as Leq and NNI, have some shortcomings with respect to their ability to predict Composite Sleep Quality.
Foreign Noise Research in Health Effects
Frederick Dick Barber; Carl Modig
May 1981
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Research from 19 countries, including 168 research projects, is described on the following topics: nonauditory physiologic response to noise; noise effects on sleep; industrial and community response to noise; noise-induced hearing loss and hearing conservation; behavioral, social and performance effects on noise; communication interference, noise environment determination and impact characterization, and effects of noise concomitant with vibration. For each project, an abstract, the name and address of the principle investigation, funding and sponsor data if available, and citations for available publications are given. It is concluded that foreign research efforts in this area have remained fairly constant over the last six years.
Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
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National League of Cities - The Buy Quiet Program
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Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurment Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Trash Compactors
June 1980
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This packet contains information for the use of government purchasing officers and other officials in purchasing quieter trash compactors. It is a companion document to the "Guide to Purchasing Quieter Products and Services" which describes in general terms how noise considerations can be incorporated into purchasing decisions. Together, these documents and others available through the Quiet product Data Bank maintained by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) can help you develop a "Buy Quiet" Program for your government.
Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
January 1981
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Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurement Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Rotary Power Lawnmowers
October 1981
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This supplement is intended to help governemtn purchasing agents and other officials purchase quieter power lawnmowers. It contains quiet lawnmower purchase specifications which were developed at a government-industry conference hosted by The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing in April, 1980. This conference was the first in a series of such specification development conferences that NIGP is conducting on different products.
Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
January 1982
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National Association of Neighborhoods - Neighborhoods Organizations Can Benefit from "Buy Quiet" Programs Started by Local Governments
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Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
January 1981
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Columnist and Member Combine to Distinguish "Buy Quiet" Approach From Federal Regulation
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Board Urges City to "Buy Quiet"
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Re-printed below in its entirety is a resolution recently passed by the Jacksonville, Florida, Environmental Protection Board.
Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
January 1982
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Official* Participants (*written Commitments to use Buy Quiet procurement process as of 10/81)
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Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurment Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Pavement Breakers and Rock Drills
June 1980
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This packet contains information for the use of government purchasing officers and other officials in purchasing quieter Pavement Breakers and Rock Drills. It is a companion document to the "Guide to Purchasing Quieter Products and Services" which describes in general terms how noise considerations can be incorporated into purchasing decisions. Together, these documents and others available through the Quiet product Data Bank maintained by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) can help you develop a "Buy Quiet" Program for your government.
Buy Quiet Program - Quiet Lawnmowers
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Report on Cost Effective Purchasing and the Buy Quiet Program
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Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
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Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
January 1982
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Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
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Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurment Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Motorcycles
June 1980
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This packet contains information for the use of government purchasing officers and other officials in purchasing quieter Motorcycles. It is a companion document to the "Guide to Purchasing Quieter Products and Services" which describes in general terms how noise considerations can be incorporated into purchasing decisions. Together, these documents and others available through the Quiet product Data Bank maintained by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) can help you develop a "Buy Quiet" Program for your government.
Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurment Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Portable Air Compressors
November 1981
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This supplement is intended to help governmental purchasing agents and other officials purchase quieter, more energy-efficient portable air compressors through the competitive bidding process. It contains a portable air compressor purchase description which was developed at a government-industry conference hosted by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing in June 1981. This conference was the third in a series of such conferences that NIGP is conducting on different products. This supplement is a companion document to the "Guide to Purchasing Quieter Products and Services" which describes in general terms how noise considerations can be incorporated into purchasing decisions. Together, these documents and others available through the Quiet Product Data Bank maintained by NIGP can help you develop a "Buy Quiet" Program for your government.
Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurment Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Chain Saws
May 1981
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This supplement is intended to help governmental purchasing agents and other officials purchase quieter chain saws. It contains quiet chain saw purchase descriptions which were developed at a government-industry conference hosted by The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing in June, 1980. This conference was the second in a series of specification development conferences that NIGP is conducting on different products. This supplement is a companion document to the :Guide ti Purchasing Quieter Products and Services" which describes in general terms how noise considerations can be incorporated into purchasing decisions. Together, these documents and other materials available through the Quiet Product Data Bank maintained by NIGP can help you develop a "Buy Quiet" Program for your government.
Noise Control Ordinance Development: A Guidebook for Local Officials
May 1982
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The future of America's cities depends on how effectively they can compete as desirable places in which to live and work. Much of their attractiveness is determined by the quality of their environment. Noise is adversely affecting the quality of urban life and is a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of our cities' residents. NLC is committed to assisting communities throughout the United States in resolving their various noise problems through the Community and Airport ECHO Program, by promoting the "Buy Quiet" program, and by preparing this publication to emphasize the important steps that a community should take in developing a noise control ordinance. This publication is a step-by-step guide that local officials can use as they undertake the ordinance development process.
Environmental Report - National League of Cities - Cities Cut Noise Levels With 'Buy Quiet' Programs
October 1980
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Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurment Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Wheel and Crawler Tractors
June 1980
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This packet contains information for the use of government purchasing officers and other officials in purchasing quieter Wheel and Crawler Tractors. It is a companion document to the "Guide to Purchasing Quieter Products and Services" which describes in general terms how noise considerations can be incorporated into purchasing decisions. Together, these documents and others available through the Quiet product Data Bank maintained by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) can help you develop a "Buy Quiet" Program for your government.
Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurment Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Vacuum Cleaners
June 1980
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This packet contains information for the use of government purchasing officers and other officials in purchasing quieter Vacuum Cleaners. It is a companion document to the "Guide to Purchasing Quieter Products and Services" which describes in general terms how noise considerations can be incorporated into purchasing decisions. Together, these documents and others available through the Quiet product Data Bank maintained by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) can help you develop a "Buy Quiet" Program for your government.
Board Urges City to "Buy Quiet"
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Buy Quiet Report - A Supplement to the NIGP Letter Service Bulletin
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