Link Found Between Long-Term Exposure to Road Traffic Noise and Increased Incidence of Diabetes and Hypertension

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This retrospective, population-based cohort study included long-term residents of Toronto, Canada, with no history of diabetes (n = 914,607) or hypertension (n = 701,174) to investigate associations between road traffic noise and the incidence of diabetes and hypertension. Each interquartile range increase in A-weighted sound pressure level for the 24-hour day and for the night (11:00 PM–7:00 AM) was associated with a 2% increase in hypertension and an 8% increase in diabetes. Stronger associations were found among adults aged <60 years and among women.

These findings demonstrate the association between long-term road traffic noise exposure and increased incidence of hypertension and diabetes.