Assessment of disease burden attributable to urban environmental noise in Beijing

Objective To estimate the disease burden attributable to environmental noise and its spatial distribution within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road in 2019.

Methods The disease burden of annoyance, sleep disturbance, and ischemic heart disease attributable to environmental noise was assessed using disability-adjusted life year (DALY). This assessment was based on the simulated noise map data and population data stratified by age group within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road and the exposure-response relationships from WHO systematic reviews were adopted. Meanwhile, the spatial distribution trend of the disease burden was investigated.

Results In 2019, the total DALYs attributable to environmental noise within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road reached 6.291 million person-years, including 0.053 million person-years of life lost (YLL) and 6.238 million person-years lived with disability (YLD). Specifically, noise-induced disease burden was about 2.912 million person-years for annoyance, 3.033 million person-years for sleep disturbance, and 0.346 million person-years for ischemic heart disease. Spatial distribution revealed that the disease burden was higher in the city center and decreased outward, closely linked to main roads and population density. Moreover, age-stratified analysis of ischemic heart disease indicated that the disease burden attributable to noise increased with age.

Conclusion Environmental noise within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road poses a considerable disease burden, which is mainly concentrated in the city center and near main roads. Future noise control should focus on improving measures against noise pollution, especially in high-risk areas and populations.