Aircraft noise and public health the evidence is loud and clear, 2016

by the Aviation Environment Federation

A good overview of aircraft noise and health, with a focus on the UK


Environmental noise guidelines for the European Region 2018

by the World Health Organisation (WHO)

A major piece of work by WHO. Although focusing on Europe, WHO sees this report as being relevant to the rest of the world as well.

A plain person’s guide to the WHO report

An easy-to-read guide compiled by HACAN


European Aviation Environmental Report 2022

by EASA

Looks at the historic and future scenarios of air traffic and its associated noise and emissions


Noise country fact sheets 2021

from the European Environment Agency (EEA)

These country fact sheets summarise information on noise pollution for selected EEA member countries. The fact sheets are based on the latest official noise data reported every five years by EEA member countries under the Environmental Noise Directive (END).


NORAH Study (Noise-Related Annoyance, Cognition, and Health), 2016

by Dirk Schreckenberg

A major study from Germany


Phenomena Study, 2021

commissioned by the European Commission

The Phenomena Study has provided a series of policy recommendations to reduce the health burden in the EU of environmental noise from roads, railways, and aviation by 20–50 percent by 2030


Survey of Noise Attitudes 2014: Aircraft Noise and Sleep Disturbance

by Civil Aviation Authority

Survey of Noise Attitudes 2014: Technical Report

by Civil Aviation Authority

Two important reports from the UK Civil Aviation Authority assessing the levels at which people get annoyed by aircraft noise, not just at night but also during the day. The findings changed UK policy. Previously the point at which it was officially recognised people started to get annoyed by aircraft noise during the day was 57dBLAeq (i.e. 57 decibels average out over a 16 hour data). Work from these studies showed that people can get annoyed at much lower levels, certainly as low as 51dBLAeq, and probably even lower.