New EU Project to Investigate the Health Effects of Noise and Ultrafine Particles

Air pollution is responsible for 500,000 premature deaths in the EU every year, while traffic noise accounts for the loss of 1.6 million healthy life years annually. However, little is known about how these factors interact when individuals are exposed to both simultaneously.

- Noise and air pollution are well-documented health risks, but we lack sufficient research on their combined effects, says Dr. Adelina Rogowska-Wrzesinska, an associate professor and research leader at the University of Southern Denmark.

Dr. Rogowska-Wrzesinska, who is partner in the new project, emphasizes that understanding the interaction between noise and particles is critical for public health:

- We hypothesize that noise and particle pollution amplify each other’s effects, especially for vulnerable individuals like the elderly, people with diabetes, or those with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, she explains.

Triggers stress hormones

Noise pollution, even when it seems easy to ignore, activates the brain and triggers stress hormones. These hormones travel through the bloodstream, impacting the heart and blood vessels, and may contribute to chronic conditions like high blood pressure.

Ultrafine particles, on the other hand, settle deep in the lungs, causing oxidative stress that can damage the cardiovascular system.

Together, noise and particle pollution are believed to be contributing factors to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

The project seeks to provide policymakers with evidence-based tools to mitigate risks. One key focus is identifying molecular biomarkers in blood or tissue samples that can indicate early signs of stress caused by noise or particle pollution. This work is led by Dr. Rogowska-Wrzesinska at University of Southern Denmark.

- If we can detect these stress markers early, society will have the opportunity to act—either by reducing the sources of pollution or by developing medications to counteract their effects, says Dr. Rogowska-Wrzesinska.

Dr. Rogowska-Wrzesinska believes that citizens should have access to information about local pollution levels when deciding where to live, as this can significantly impact their health. She even envisions a future where doctors might advise patients to relocate to less polluted areas, much like they currently recommend diet and exercise changes.

- As it is now, city authorities do not provide information on where residents are exposed. I think people deserve to have access to that kind of information, Dr. Rogowska-Wrzesinska says.