Road traffic noise exposure and its impact on health: evidence from animal and human studies—chronic stress, inflammation, and oxidative stress as key components of the complex downstream pathway underlying noise-induced non-auditory health effects

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 31; no. 34; pp. 46820 - 46839
• Main Authors: Arregi, Ane, Vegas, Oscar, Lertxundi, Aitana, Silva, Ana, Ferreira, Isabel, Bereziartua, Ainhoa, Cruz, Maria Teresa, Lertxundi, Nerea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-07-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aging (artificial); Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cardiovascular diseases; Catecholamines; Circadian rhythms; Cognitive ability; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Health; Health risks; Hormones; Humans; Hypothalamus; Inflammation; Microbiomes; Neurodegenerative diseases; Noise - adverse effects; Noise levels; Noise, Transportation - adverse effects; Oxidative Stress; Pituitary; Public health; Review; Review Article; Risk factors; Roads; Stress response; Sympathetic nervous system; Transportation noise; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Non-auditory health effects; Environmental stressor; Road traffic noise
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33973-9

In heavily urbanized world saturated with environmental pollutants, road traffic noise stands out as a significant factor contributing to widespread public health issues. It contributes in the development of a diverse range of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic dysregulation, cognitive impairment, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although the exact mechanisms behind these non-auditory health effects remain unclear, the noise reaction model centres on the stress response to noise. When exposed to noise, the body activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system, leading to the secretion of stress hormones like catecholamines and cortisol. Prolonged exposure to noise-induced stress results in chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. This review underscores the role of inflammation and oxidative stress in the progression of noise-induced vascular dysfunction, disruption of the circadian rhythm, accelerated aging, neuroinflammation, and changes in microbiome. Additionally, our focus is on understanding the interconnected nature of these health outcomes: These interconnected factors create a cascade effect, contributing to the accumulation of multiple risk factors that ultimately lead to severe adverse health effects.