In this paper, we investigated the procedure of noise assessment in the study of nocturnal noise exposure
during sleep in the home situation. The use of two different timeframes (fixed from 11 PM to 07 AM versus
personal ‘‘Time in Bed’’ period) was explored as well as the relation between indoor and outdoor
noise levels and between the actual and estimated noise levels. Noise recordings were performed inside
and outside the bedroom of 24 subjects living in high density road traffic noise areas in the Brussels’
Capital Region during seven consecutive days. Indoor and outdoor noise indicators LAeq, LAmax and individual
noise events were analysed. Subjects completed a daily sleep log in which the Time in Bed period
was assessed. The results indicate that, for outdoor noise assessment, the use of an average LAeq might not
be sufficient to reflect well the noise levels during the sleep period. For indoor measurements, significant
differences were found in the comparison between both timeframes (LAeq: T = 16; p < .001). Considering
the relation between indoor and outdoor measurements, low correlations (r = .49; p < .001) were found
even when the location of the bedroom as a mediating factor was accounted for (street side; r = .52;
p < .001). Therefore, from our study, caution is needed when relying on outdoor noise measurements
for the evaluation of sleep disturbances. Furthermore, one needs to be aware of the weak correspondence
between indoor and outdoor noise levels in the discussion of what a harmonized noise indicator for the
evaluation of noise exposure and sleep disturbances should consist of.
In this paper, we investigated the procedure of noise assessment in the study of nocturnal noise exposureduring sleep in the home situation. The use of two different timeframes (fixed from 11 PM to 07 AM versuspersonal ‘‘Time in Bed’’ period) was explored as well as the relation between indoor and outdoornoise levels and between the actual and estimated noise levels. Noise recordings were performed insideand outside the bedroom of 24 subjects living in high density road traffic noise areas in the Brussels’Capital Region during seven consecutive days. Indoor and outdoor noise indicators LAeq, LAmax and individualnoise events were analysed. Subjects completed a daily sleep log in which the Time in Bed periodwas assessed. The results indicate that, for outdoor noise assessment, the use of an average LAeq might notbe sufficient to reflect well the noise levels during the sleep period. For indoor measurements, significantdifferences were found in the comparison between both timeframes (LAeq: T = 16; p < .001). Consideringthe relation between indoor and outdoor measurements, low correlations (r = .49; p < .001) were foundeven when the location of the bedroom as a mediating factor was accounted for (street side; r = .52;p < .001). Therefore, from our study, caution is needed when relying on outdoor noise measurementsfor the evaluation of sleep disturbances. Furthermore, one needs to be aware of the weak correspondencebetween indoor and outdoor noise levels in the discussion of what a harmonized noise indicator for theevaluation of noise exposure and sleep disturbances should consist of.
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