Effects of ground-borne noise from railway tunnels on sleep: A polysomnographic study

Residents of dwellings near railway tunnels may be exposed to noise, which propagates through the tunnel and ground and into the home. Noise radiated into bedrooms may disrupt sleep, which can have negative consequences for physical and mental wellbeing. In this paper, we present a laboratory investigation of the impact of ground-borne railway noise on physiologic and self-reported sleep. Over five consecutive nights, including habituation and control nights, 23 healthy participants were exposed to noise of two different frequency spectra at maximum levels of 35, 40 and 45 dB. Sleep was measured using polysomnography and questionnaires. Heart rate was measured using electrocardiography. Sleep was significantly disturbed, both in terms of physiologic and self-reported measures, during nights with 45 dB noise, although the number and size of effects was modest. No significant differences in overall sleep structure or subjective sleep disturbance and quality were found between control and 35 dB nights. Within 60 s following noise onset, the noise spectrum with higher amplitude frequencies above 100 Hz led to increases in heart rate at noise levels of 35 dB and above, and increased arousal probability at a noise level of 45 dB. The results generally support that the proposed Swedish guideline value of 35 dB maximum noise level indoors may be suitable for protecting against adverse sleep outcomes due to ground-borne railway noise. •Physiologic sleep disruption by ground-borne railway noise increased with noise level.•Majority of self-reported sleep measures were worse after 45 dB nights than baseline.•Noise spectra dominated by very low frequencies had no effect on physiologic response.