Living near a noisy airport increases the risk of high blood pressure, according to research. The findings suggest that constant exposure to high levels of noise may be damaging to health.

A team at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm studied 2,700 men living near Stockholm Arlanda airport between 1992 and 2004. The team reports in the journal Epidemiology that the men exposed to an average daily noise level of more than 50 decibels were 19 per cent more likely to have high blood pressure.

The World Health Organisation recommends a limit of 55 decibels on noise in residential areas. It wants governments to commit to reducing average noise levels to between 30 and 40 decibels.

Older men seemed most affected. Charlotta Eriksson, who led the study, said: “This might be due to prolonged exposure. Or it may be that older people are more sensitive to noise.”

Tim Johnson, of the Aviation Environment Federation, said that the findings backed up earlier evidence on the damaging effects of aircraft noise. “All the regulations in the UK are based on noise annoyance,” he said. “The Government has not taken enough notice of this as a health issue.”

Explore Health

• Expert Advice

• Health Features

• Mental Health

• Alternative Medicine

• Child Health

• Health Club