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Measurements of urban noise and its impact on human health: A scoping review

Medidas de ruído urbano e seus efeitos na saúde humana: uma revisão de escopo

Tiago Costa Pereira; Rafaela Carolina Lopez Silva; Sirley Alves da Silva Carvalho; Stela Maris Aguiar Lemos; Amélia Augusta de Lima Friche

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216/20252732924 Revista CEFAC, vol.27, n3, e2924, 2025
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Abstract

Purpose: to review scientific literature on urban noise measurement methods and its effects on human health.

Methods: this scoping review of urban noise measurement methods and its effects on human health surveyed the following scientific databases: VHL, LILACS, PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. It included articles that investigated the effects of urban noise on human health and described noise measurement methods and values ​​in decibels (dB) and excluded those reporting the effects of urban noise on animal health.

Literature Review: the final sample comprised 33 articles. Noise measurement, using the logarithmic scale, has become more widely used in recent years. The main health effects of noise were stress or irritability, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular diseases, interference with activities of daily living and/or quality of life, increased heart or respiratory rate, hearing impairment and tinnitus, and breast cancer.

Conclusion: the effects of urban noise on human health are most evident in extra-auditory symptoms. It is necessary to develop and validate reliable instruments to measure people’s perception of urban noise.

Keywords

Noise; Noise, Transportation; Noise Effects; Public Health; Quality of Life

Resumo

Objetivo: revisar a literatura científica sobre os métodos de aferição do ruído urbano e os efeitos deste na saúde humana.

Métodos: trata-se de revisão de escopo acerca dos métodos de aferição do ruído urbano e seus efeitos na saúde humana. O levantamento foi realizado nas bases de dados científicas: BVS, LILACS, Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library e Scopus. Foram incluídos artigos que investigaram os efeitos do ruído urbano na saúde humana e que descrevessem os métodos de aferição do ruído e os valores em decibels (dB). Foram excluídos os artigos que referiram efeitos do ruído urbano na saúde animal.

Revisão da Literatura: a amostra final foi composta por 33 artigos. A medida do ruído considerando a escala logarítmica tem sido mais utilizada nos últimos anos. Os principais efeitos do ruído provocados na saúde foram: estresse ou irritabilidade; alterações no sono; doenças cardiovasculares; interferência nas atividades de vida diária e/ou qualidade de vida; aumento na frequência cardíaca ou respiratória; prejuízo na audição e zumbido e câncer de mama.

Conclusão: os efeitos do ruído urbano na saúde humana estão mais evidenciados nos sintomas extra auditivos. Ainda, faz-se imperiosa a elaboração e validação de instrumentos confiáveis para medir a percepção do ruído urbano pelos indivíduos.

Palavras-chave

Ruído; Ruído dos Transportes; Efeitos do Ruído; Saúde Pública; Qualidade de Vida

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Submitted date:
03/23/2024

Accepted date:
04/02/2025

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