New research from a British university has shown that noisy road traffic and air pollution have a link to a major stroke risk factor.
Researchers from the University of the West of Scotland have identified that hypertension is linked to road traffic with air pollution, after examined the relationship between environmental quality and direct health impacts.
The researchers monitored traffic noise at different frequencies and registered hypertension cases in urban Glasgow. The observed a significant correlation between noise, air pollution and hypertension in high-traffic-flow residential areas.
The study authors believe that this research provides an important case study for an “increasing international evidence base to support future environment policy and support public health measures,” those being points such as setting noise guidelines and improving technology on quieter vehicles and urban design.
Professor Andrew Hursthouse, lead supervisor of the study, says: “This work is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration with Mr Jan Miller, HLS and Dr Daniel Boakye, formerly HLS, to support the efforts of PhD student Wisdom Adza, highlighting the potential of joining skills to address societal problems.
“The increasing evidence highlighting environmental conditions and public health impacts is a game-changer when it comes to the prevention of hypertension at individual and societal level.”
The researchers also believe that the research demonstrates that multiple environmental indicators can be brought together in order to provide information to support impact assessment for public health in urban environments.
Furthermore, the findings could provide support for local authorities in planning and managing the built environment, as well as affording opportunities for tools to be developed to improve public health decision making.
Wisdom Adza, main investigator of the study, says: “A review of this area identifies opportunities for including broader indicators in public health policy.
“Although further investigation is needed, this should not delay actions to recognise that traffic noise is a potential risk factor for hypertension, and heart diseases more generally, in the development of clinical guideline and environmental policy.”
