Aircraft noise affects school performance

Exposure to aircraft noise around schools located near major airports might adversely affect children's cognitive performance. The effects of air pollution, lead, and chemicals on childhood development have been well studied, but less attention has been paid to the impact of noise. To investigate, researchers from the University of London assessed the cognitive abilities of 2844 children who attended 89 primary schools located near three major airports in Europe. The degree of aircraft and road traffic noise exposure was determined with noise contour maps, modelling, and on-site measurements. Cognitive performance was assessed with standard tests. As exposure to aircraft noise increased, impairments in reading comprehension and recognition memory also rose significantly. This held true after factoring in the mothers' education level, socioeconomic status, long-standing illness, and the extent of classroom insulation against noise. Unexpectedly, exposure to road traffic noise was significantly associated with improvements in episodic memory. The reason for this finding is unclear and demands further study. Neither type of noise had an effect on sustained attention, self-reported health, or overall mental health. The findings might have important implications for health care advisors. There might be a possible role for noise in attention-deficit disorders, sleep problems, and cardiovascular diseases.