@article{3058236,
    title = "Saliva cortisol and exposure to aircraft noise in six European countries",
    author = "Selander, J. and Bluhm, G. and Theorell, T. and Pershagen, G. and Babisch, W. and Seiffert, I. and Houthuijs, D. and Breugelmans, O. and Vigna-Taglianti, F. and Antoniotti, M.C. and Velonakis, E. and Davou, E. and Dudley, M.-L. and Järup, L.",
    journal = "Environmental Health Perspectives",
    year = "2009",
    volume = "117",
    number = "11",
    pages = "1713-1717",
    issn = "0091-6765, 1552-9924",
    doi = "10.1289/ehp.0900933",
    keywords = "hydrocortisone, adult;  aged;  aircraft noise;  article;  cardiovascular effect;  clinical trial;  confidence interval;  controlled study;  correlation analysis;  cross-sectional study;  employment status;  Europe;  female;  human;  human experiment;  linear regression analysis;  male;  multicenter study;  priority journal;  risk factor;  saliva;  sex difference;  traffic noise, Aged;  Aircraft;  Cardiovascular Diseases;  Cross-Sectional Studies;  Environmental Exposure;  Europe;  Female;  Humans;  Hydrocortisone;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Noise, Transportation;  Saliva;  Sex Factors;  Time Factors",
    abstract = "BACKGROUND: Several studies show an association between exposure to aircraft or road traffic noise and cardiovascular effects, which may be mediated by a noise-induced release of stress hormones. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess saliva cortisol concentration in relation to exposure to aircraft noise. METHOD: A multicenter cross-sectional study, HYENA (Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports), comprising 4,861 persons was carried out in six European countries. In a subgroup of 439 study participants, selected to enhance the contrast in exposure to aircraft noise, saliva cortisol was assessed three times (morning, lunch, and evening) during 1 day. RESULTS: We observed an elevation of 6.07 nmol/L [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.32-9.81 nmol/L] in morning saliva cortisol level in women exposed to aircraft noise at an average 24-hr sound level (LAeq,24h) > 60 dB, compared with women exposed to LAeq,24h ≤ 50 dB, corresponding to an increase of 34%. Employment status appeared to modify the response. We found no association between noise exposure and saliva cortisol levels in men. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exposure to aircraft noise increases morning saliva cortisol levels in women, which could be of relevance for noise-related cardiovascular effects."
}