Tao Kou Chai 2021

Methods:

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Real-time noise levels were collected by the SLM-25 Sound Level Meters, which meet the standard of IEC61672 Type 2 within the range from 30 to 130 dBA. Simultaneous with the air pollutant sensors, these portable noise sensors recorded minutely A-weighted decibels (LA) at each location where specific activities or trips took place.

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Sound level meters were used to collect noise level data as participants moved to different locations. The noise levels were “A-weighted” or in other words, adjusted to more accurately reflect the loudness perceived by the human ear. 

Introduction:

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With rapid urbanization and industrialization, cities of developing countries are confronted with increasingly urgent issues of multiple sources of environmental pollutants, such as ambient air pollution and social noise issues. Therefore, it is imperative to discern when and where people are concurrently exposed to air pollution and noise, and how the co-exposures would give rise to greater health risks.

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People living in cities are impacted by many environmental pollutants, including air pollution and noise. It’s important to understand when and where people are exposed to air pollution and/or noise, and how being exposed to both may increase negative health outcomes. 

Results:

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After simultaneously considering exposures to air pollution and noise in Model 3, the results of Model 1 and 2 still held true that PM2.5 was a significant indicator of momentary psychological stress (OR =1.34, 95% CI= (1.04,1.80)) while noise was not (OR =1.17, 95% CI=(0.94,1.51)). It is worth noting that the addition of LAeq,5minutes did not attenuate or intensify the effect of PM2.5 concentrations, suggesting that noise exposure was not a valid confounder for the association of exposure to air pollution with psychological stress.

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When considering both air pollution levels and noise level, air pollution did cause a significant increase in psychological stress but noise did not. Noise was not considered a confounder in this study as the noise level didn’t change the rated stress level resulting from air pollution.

Discussion:

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The weak co- exposures to air pollution and noise appeared only during morning and evening rush hours, evening time at home, and traveling by car and public transit. Besides, air pollution was more acute an environmental stressor compared with noise, considering the insignificant independent effect and the weak moderating effect of noise exposure.

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Participants were only exposed to both air pollution and noise during morning and evening rush hours, evenings at home, and when travelling by car or transit. Air pollution was found to be a stronger stressor compared with noise. Noise levels did not independently impact stress levels in a significant way. Noise levels only weakly moderated the impact of other variables on stress levels.

I think follow up research should look into if there a more comprehensive way of assessing psychological stress than simply rating stress levels on a 4 point scale, as well as assessing whether one person’s stress rating is similar to another’s based on biomarkers (heart rate or blood pressure).

I didn’t fully understand how the impacts of air pollution and noise were separated. Both variables were recorded but I didn’t understand the statistical models that allowed the researchers to attribute stress levels to one variable or the other with confidence.