Does traffic noise influence respiratory mortality?

To the Editor: Over the last decade, several studies have investigated the association between noise levels, primarily due to road traffic in large cities, and pathologies not related to either traditional hearing impairments or sleep disorders. These pathologies are mainly hypertension and cardiovascular, connective system and respiratory diseases [1]. Their impact on public health has been assessed in time series studies, indicating a traffic noise effect on both cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions rates similar to that attributed to air pollutants [2]. In addition, a recent study has shown an association of noise levels with cardiovascular mortality [3]. The description of the physiopathological mechanisms involved in this association reveal an actual impact of current road traffic noise levels on health [1]. Others question this because of the high correlation between traffic noise and air pollution [4], although a previous study in our setting showed an independent association between noise and cardiovascular mortality from the effect of the primary chemical air pollutants [5]. However, the effect of noise on respiratory mortality has not …