Environmental Noise and Mental Disturbances in Urban Population

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the presence of environmental noise and frequency of mental disturbances in adults. The study included 911 subjects living in the city of Niš, aged from 18 to 80 years. A questionnaire containing questions related to the psychological problems of examinees was administered. Also, the levels of noise in the streets in which the study population lives were assessed. Based on the intensity of noise, city locations were divided into the noisy (daily period Leq ≥ 55dBA and night Leq ≥ 45dBA) and quiet (daily period Leq ≤ 55dBA and night Leq ≤ 45 dBA). Our data showed that environmental noise had negative influence on the exposed adults. Subjects living in the noisy locations reported to feel depressed (χ2=8,75, p=0,03) and nervous (χ2=12,43, p=0,006) more frequently than those living in the quiet parts of the city. Also, the subjects living in the noisy locations referred to psychologists or psychiatrists more frequently that the subjects living in the quiet parts of the city (p=0,04). Acta Medica Medianae 2011;50(3):34-39.