Living near an airport may be hazardous to your health. That’s what scientists concluded in two different studies published in the BMJ. Investigators collected data from more than 3 million Londoners living within earshot of Heathrow airport. Those exposed to the highest levels of takeoff and landing noise had a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
A separate study involving more than 6 million Americans living near 89 airports around the country also found higher rates of cardiovascular disease among Medicare recipients in the noisiest zip codes. (Click on the link to see the map.) The investigators estimate that more than 2% of hospitalizations for heart disease among older people living near airports might be attributed to noise pollution.
