Małgorzata Waszkowska

Evaluation of annoyance from the wind turbine noise: A pilot study

ObjectivesThe overall aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of and annoyance due to the noise from wind turbines in populated areas of Poland.Material and MethodsThe study group comprised 156 subjects. All subjects were asked to fill in a questionnaire developed to enable evaluation of their living conditions, including prevalence of annoyance due to the noise from wind turbines and the self-assessment of physical health and well-being. In addition, current mental health status of the respondents was assessed using Goldberg General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12. For areas where the respondents lived, A-weighted sound pressure levels (SPLs) were calculated as the sum of the contributions from the wind power plants in the specific area.ResultsIt has been shown that the wind turbine noise at the calculated A-weighted SPL of 30-48 dB was noticed outdoors by 60.3% of the respondents. This noise was perceived as annoying outdoors by 33.3% of the respondents, while indoors by 20.5% of them. The odds ratio of being annoyed outdoors by the wind turbine noise increased along with increasing SPLs (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.22–3.62). The subjects’ attitude to wind turbines in general and sensitivity to landscape littering was found to have significant impact on the perceived annoyance. About 63% of variance in outdoors annoyance assessment might be explained by the noise level, general attitude to wind turbines and sensitivity to landscape littering.ConclusionsBefore firm conclusions can be drawn further studies are needed, including a larger number of respondents with different living environments (i.e., dissimilar terrain, different urbanization and road traffic intensity).

Annoyance Related to Low Frequency Noise in Subjective Assessment of Workers

The aim of this study was to assess annoyance related to low frequency noise (LFN) in employees of the control rooms and office-like areas. Subjects were 276 workers, aged 26–62 years, exposed to noise at A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) of 41–66 dB. They were asked to assess noise annoyance at their workplace using a 100 point graphical scale. The subjective ratings were compared with various noise metrics and objective evaluations based on proposed LFN exposure criteria for occupational settings. There was a difference in annoyance assessment related to noise with and without (or with less prominent) low frequency content. Low frequency noise was rated as more annoying even though it was at lower dBA levels. Among the noise metrics, the low frequency A-weighted SPL yielded the highest correlation with subjective evaluations of LFN. There was also a quite good agreement between individual annoyance ratings and limit excesses corresponding to preliminary Swedish and Polish exposure criteria.

Does Low Frequency Noise at Modarate Levels Influence Human Mental Performance

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of low frequency noise (LFN) at levels normally occurring in the industrial control rooms on human mental performance (attention, visual perception and logical reasoning) and subjective well-being. Subjects were 191 male volunteers categorised in terms of subjective sensitivity to noise in general. They performed standardised tests: the Signal Detection Test (test I), the Stroop Colour-Word Test (test II), and two sub-tests of the General Aptitude Test Battery, i.e. the Math Reasoning Test (test III) and the Comparing of Names Test (test IV). Three different acoustic conditions were used in the between-subjects design: the background laboratory noise of about 30 dB(A), LFN, and a broadband noise without dominant low frequency components (reference noise) at 50 dB(A). Each subject was tested only once in random-assigned exposure conditions. Generally, no significant differences in performance related to exposure conditions were noted. Some of the results from test I and test II were influenced by sensitivity to noise. However, there were no significant differences between high- and low-sensitive subjects during exposure to LFN. The annoyance of LFN and reference noise was rated higher than that of the background noise. Subjects highly-sensitive to noise reported higher annoyance due to LFN in comparison with low-sensitives. No significant differences related to noise sensitivity in annoyance assessment of background and reference noises were noted. In conclusion, no effects due to LFN on mental performance compared to background and reference noises were found.

Polish Mother and Child Cohort Study(REPRO_PL) – Methodology of the follow-up of the children at the age of 7

Effects of environmental exposures in utero and in the first years of life on early life health and development is a growing research area with major public health implications. The main aim of this work has been to provide an overview of the next step of the Polish Mother and Child Cohort Study (REPRO_PL) covering exposure, health and neurodevelopment assessments of children at 7 years of age. Details regarding methodology of the follow-up of the children are crucial for cross-cohort collaboration and a full understanding of the future research questions. Phase III of the REPRO_PL cohort covers a follow-up of 900 children at the age of 7 years old. The questionnaire filled in by the mothers is composed of: socio-demographic, child exposure and home environment information, nutritional status and health data. In the case of 400 children, environmental (including collection of urine, saliva and buccal cells), health status and psychomotor assessments are performed. Health and development check consists of physical measurements, child health status assessment (including lung function tests, skin prick testing, an interview/examination by an allergist) and psychomotor development tests (the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Intelligence and Development Scales). The results of the study will become available within the next few years. Extension of the REPRO_PL cohort with examinations of children at the age of 7 years old may provide a better understanding of the relationship between environmental and lifestyle-related factors and childrens health and neurodevelopment; and may further strengthen scientific base for policies and interventions promoting healthy lifestyle. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(6):883-893.

Assessment of annoyance due to wind turbine noise

The overall aim of this study was to evaluate the perception and annoyance of noise from wind turbines in populated areas of Poland. The study group comprised 156 subjects. All subjects were interviewed using a questionnaire developed to enable evaluation of their living conditions, including prevalence of annoyance due to noise from wind turbines, and the self-assessment of physical health and wellbeing. In addition, current mental health status of respondents was assessed using Goldberg General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12. For areas where respondents lived, A-weighted sound pressure levels (SPLs) were calculated as the sum of the contributions from the wind power plants in the specific area. It has been shown that the wind turbine noise at the calculated A-weighted SPL of 30−48 dB was perceived as annoying outdoors by about one third of respondents, while indoors by one fifth of them. The proportions of the respondents annoyed by the wind turbine noise increased with increasing A-weighted sound pressure...

Response to Noise Emitted by Wind Farms in People Living in Nearby Areas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception and annoyance of noise from wind turbines in populated areas of Poland. A questionnaire inquiry was carried out among 517 subjects, aged 18–88, living within 204–1726 m from the nearest wind turbine. For areas where respondents lived, A-weighted sound pressure levels (SPLs) were calculated as the sum of the contributions from the wind power plants in the specific area. It has been shown that the wind turbine noise at the calculated A-weighted SPL of 33–50 dB was perceived as annoying or highly annoying by 46% and 28% of respondents, respectively. Moreover, 34% and 18% of them said that they were annoyed or highly annoyed indoors, respectively. The perception of high annoyance was associated with the A-weighted sound pressure level or the distance from the nearest wind turbine, general attitude to wind farms, noise sensitivity and terrain shape (annoyance outdoors) or road-traffic intensity (annoyance indoors). About 48–66% of variance in noise annoyance rating might be explained by the aforesaid factors. It was estimated that at the distance of 1000 m the wind turbine noise might be perceived as highly annoying outdoors by 43% and 2% of people with negative and positive attitude towards wind turbines, respectively. There was no significant association between noise level (or distance) and various health and well-being aspects. However, all variables measuring health and well-being aspects, including stress symptoms, were positively associated with annoyance related to wind turbine noise.

Effort–reward balance as a mediator of the relationship between supplementary person–organization fit and perceived stress among middle-level managers

OBJECTIVES The study has aimed to identify the relations between the supplementary person-organization fit (P-O fit) and the perceived stress among managerial staff, with special regard to the mediating role of the effort-reward balance. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study sample consisted of 715 middle-level managers, aged 25-64 years old, employed in large companies. To measure the selected variables, the authors used the Questionnaire of Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI), Perceived Stress Scale - 10 (PSS-10), and Person-Organization Fit Questionnaire. RESULTS The regression analysis revealed that the perceived effort-reward imbalance partially mediated the negative relationship between the supplementary person-organization fit and stress. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that even when the characteristics of the manager and organization are highly congruent, the managers will experience stress if their work involves heavy effort or when this effort is not compensated properly. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(2):305-312.