Summary: New national research finds that people who live near heavy road traffic and are exposed to higher residential noise levels face an increased risk of developing tinnitus.
Source: University of Southern Denmark
Living close to a busy road can raise stress levels and disrupt sleep. Prolonged stress and poor sleep quality are known contributors to tinnitus, and new evidence links traffic noise at home with a higher incidence of this hearing condition.
Researchers from the Department of Clinical Research and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute at the University of Southern Denmark analyzed health and environmental data for 3.5 million Danes and report a clear association between residential road traffic noise and the risk of developing tinnitus.
Tinnitus commonly presents as persistent or intermittent ringing, buzzing, or whistling sounds in the ears or head. For many, these phantom sounds are intrusive and affect daily life.
Risk rises with higher noise levels
This is the first large-scale study to identify a link between traffic noise at people’s homes and hearing-related outcomes. The researchers identified more than 40,000 diagnosed cases of tinnitus in the Danish cohort.
“In our data, every 10 dB increase in residential traffic noise is associated with about a 6% higher risk of developing tinnitus,” says Manuella Lech Cantuaria, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute and affiliated with the Department of Clinical Research at SDU.
Her colleague Jesper Hvass Schmidt, Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Research and Chief Physician at Odense University Hospital, notes that traffic noise has been linked with several other health problems. In 2021 their team reported associations between traffic noise and dementia.
“Traffic noise is an environmental factor that deserves more attention in public health and urban planning,” says Jesper Hvass Schmidt. “The growing evidence that road noise contributes to tinnitus, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline is concerning.”
Likely only the visible cases
Tinnitus diagnoses in this study came from clinical settings, such as the hearing clinic at Odense University Hospital. Only the most severe or persistent cases are typically referred to specialists, so diagnosed cases likely represent a fraction of the true burden.
“About 10% of the general population experiences tinnitus occasionally,” Jesper Hvass Schmidt explains. “Because tinnitus is linked to stress and disrupted sleep, and because traffic noise can worsen both, there may be a reinforcing cycle that increases symptoms and lowers quality of life.”
The authors emphasize that further research is needed to confirm causal relationships and to clarify the biological pathways by which traffic noise might affect the auditory system. Nevertheless, the link between noise, stress, sleep disturbance and tinnitus is biologically plausible.
Nighttime noise is particularly harmful
The researchers highlight that noise during the night can be especially damaging because it disrupts sleep—an essential restorative process for both physical and mental health.
“If you live beside a busy road, it is worth thinking about ways to protect your sleep,” says Manuella Lech Cantuaria. “Good sleep is central to recovery and may help reduce the impact of noise on tinnitus and overall health.”
Practical steps to reduce indoor noise exposure
When the study calculated noise levels for each residence, higher associations with tinnitus were observed for noise measured at the quieter façade of homes—the side usually used for bedrooms. This suggests bedroom-facing noise exposure during sleep is a meaningful predictor of risk.
Simple measures can reduce indoor noise: choose a bedroom that does not face the busiest street when possible, add soundproofing like double-glazed windows, use heavy curtains, or install acoustic panels. However, not everyone can implement these changes, and many residents remain exposed.
“Because individual mitigation options are limited for many people, traffic noise must be treated as a public health risk in urban planning and policy decisions,” Manuella Lech Cantuaria says.
Facts about traffic noise
The Danish guidance level for potentially harmful traffic noise is 58 decibels. Approximately 1.4 million Danes are estimated to live in homes exposed to noise levels above this threshold. Road noise largely originates from tire–road interaction, so replacing combustion vehicles with electric models alone will not eliminate residential noise exposure.
Policy measures that reduce nighttime speeds, add noise-absorbing road surfaces, or install noise barriers alongside roads have been used in several countries to limit sleep disturbance and lower population exposure.
Facts on tinnitus
Tinnitus is a subjective perception of sound without an external source. People describe it as ringing, buzzing, humming, or whistling in the ears or head. It can result from hearing loss, injury, disease, or arise without a clear cause. Tinnitus often impairs sleep, concentration and mental health. Management options include hearing aids, psychological therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, sound therapy and other supportive strategies to reduce its impact on daily life.
About this noise pollution and tinnitus research news
Author: Marianne Lie Becker
Source: University of Southern Denmark
Contact: Marianne Lie Becker – University of Southern Denmark
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: Open access. “Transportation Noise and Risk of Tinnitus: A Nationwide Cohort Study from Denmark” by Manuella Lech Cantuaria et al., Environmental Health Perspectives
Abstract
Transportation Noise and Risk of Tinnitus: A Nationwide Cohort Study from Denmark
Background:
Evidence is accumulating that residential transportation noise affects several non-auditory health outcomes, but auditory outcomes like tinnitus have been largely unexplored.
Objectives:
This study investigated whether residential exposure to transportation noise is associated with an increased risk of incident tinnitus.
Methods:
A nationwide cohort of all Danish residents aged 30 and older was followed; 40,692 individuals were diagnosed with tinnitus. Road traffic and railway noise were modeled at the most and least exposed façades of every address in Denmark from 1990 to 2017. Researchers calculated time-weighted mean noise exposure over 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods and adjusted analyses for detailed individual- and area-level socioeconomic factors using Cox proportional hazards models.
Results:
Positive associations were observed between road traffic noise and tinnitus risk. For a 10-dB increase in 10-year noise at the least exposed façade (Ldenmin), the hazard ratio was 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.08); for the most exposed façade (Ldenmax) the hazard ratio was 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.03). Higher risks were noted among women, individuals without diagnosed hearing loss, and people with higher education and income. A clear exposure–response relationship was evident for Ldenmin. No association was found between railway noise and tinnitus.
Discussion:
This is the first study to suggest that residential exposure to road traffic noise may increase the risk of tinnitus, implying that noise can negatively affect the auditory system. If these findings are confirmed, they strengthen the case that road traffic noise is a harmful environmental pollutant with significant public health consequences.