Project 017: Pilot Study on Aircraft Noise and Sleep Disturbance

Aviation Sustainability Center

The long-term goal of this line of research is to derive exposure–response relationships for aircraft noise-induced sleep disturbance that are representative of the exposed U.S. population. Studies will have to investigate samples around multiple airports; therefore, it will not be possible to use polysomnography [i.e., simultaneous recording of the electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram, and electrooculogram] to monitor sleep because this would require trained personnel at the measurement site in the evening and morning, which would be too costly. An alternative method of using a single-channel electrocardiogram (ECG) and actigraphy to monitor sleep has been examined. This would allow investigation of a greater number of subject samples at lower cost because individuals can be taught how to apply the electrodes themselves. Also, in contrast to polysomnography, awakenings can be identified automatically. Awakenings are defined as brain activations (so-called EEG arousals) that last 15 s or longer. As part of previous research, we refined an algorithm for identifying EEG arousals (Basner et al., 2007) based on increases in heart rate to identify only those arousals ≥15 s in duration, which is the most agreed upon indicator of noise-induced sleep disturbance. High agreement was obtained between arousals scored visually from the EEG and those identified using the refined ECG-based algorithm. The method of using ECG and actigraphy to monitor sleep has been implemented in two pilot field studies to evaluate the quality of data that can be obtained for unattended physiological and noise measurements. Based on lessons learned, the study protocol is being refined to inform the design and cost of a potential multi-airport study on the effects of noise on sleep.

Project 017: Pilot Study on Aircraft Noise and Sleep Disturbance

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