Assessing the effects of noise abatement measures on health risks: A case study in Istanbul

• Transportation noise has a significant effect on health.
• Noise should be included in the environmental assessment of transportation systems.
• Traffic noise abatement measures include noise reducing pavements and speed limits.
• Noise abatement measures help reduce the health risks of transportation noise.
• Speed limit reduction on uncongested roads is an effective way to reduce health risks.

In recent decades, noise pollution caused by industrialization and increased motorization has become a major concern around the world because of its adverse effects on human well-being. Therefore, transportation agencies have been implementing noise abatement measures in order to reduce road traffic noise. However, limited attention is given to noise in environmental assessment of road transportation systems. This paper presents a framework for a health impact assessment model for road transportation noise emissions. The model allows noise impacts to be addressed with the health effects of air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions from road transportation. The health damages assessed in the model include annoyance, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular disease in terms of acute myocardial infarction. The model was applied in a case study in Istanbul in order to evaluate the change in health risks from the implementation of noise abatement strategies. The noise abatement strategies evaluated include altering pavement surfaces in order to absorb noise and introducing speed limits. It was shown that significant improvements in health risks can be achieved using open graded pavement surfaces and introducing speed limits on highways.