Health and Pollution Impacts of Aviation

March 9, 2024

"The easiest and most efficient solution to reduce air pollution is to reduce the number of flights and airports."

Aviation Is a Health Issue from Stay Grounded and the European Union Against Aircraft Nuisance (UECNA), offers a number of recommendations for reducing toxic emissions generated by commercial airports and private jets. Though not directly addressed in the report, many of the identified health and pollution concerns also apply to toxic general aviation airports.

Key points from the report:


The World Health Organization recommends a limit of 45 decibels (dB) for daytime and 40 dB at night. Currently, the European Union only considers aircraft noise from an average of 55 dB or above in its legislation, "a level linked to significantly higher risk levels for different cardiovascular diseases and lower reading performance in children." (Pg. 3)

The following paragraph did not appear in the report. It is included here to provide perspective on decibel levels in the U.S. which has set a 65 DNL. During a December 2022 presentation by Dr. Daniel Fink at a meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, the author pointed out the discrepancy between FAA and EPA noise recommendations, "The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) 65 A-weighted decibel (dBA) day-night average sound level (DNL) is not a safe noise exposure level for the American public...The Environmental Protection Agency, however, calculated that the safe noise levels for the public are DNL =<55dB to prevent outdoor activity interference and annoyance and =<45dB to prevent indoor activity interference and annoyance...The associations between aviation noise exposure and its adverse health effects are well documented...For population health and safety, aviation noise must be reduced." In addition to chairing the Quiet Coalition, Daniel Fink MD "serves as an Expert Consultant to the World Health Organization on its Make Listening Safe Program, and as a subject matter expert on noise and the public for the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health."

"Air traffic noise is associated with a variety of serious health problems: The most critical include cardiovascular diseases (e.g. ischaemic heart disease), cognitive impairment (especially in children), mental health issues (e.g. depression), sleep disturbance and its associated health effects, diabetes and stress-related diseases like hypertension. In airport workers and nearby residents, noise can cause damage to or loss of hearing. Several European studies with large sample sizes confirmed correlations not only between aircraft noise and serious illnesses, but also increased hospital admissions and mortality. One study estimates that night-time aircraft noise near Frankfurt airport leads to 2,340 hospitalizations and 340 deaths per year." (Pg. 3)

"Aircraft emissions are a major source of local air pollution in and around airports and contribute significantly to background concentrations of ozone and particulate matter (PM). According to the latest estimate, ozone and PM alone cause 74,300 premature deaths globally per year - and these don't even include all aircraft emissions." (Pg. 4)

A 2021 study concluded that "exposure to aircraft emissions induce pulmonary and systemic inflammation, which potentially contributes to cancer, asthma, respiratory and coronary heart disease" and worsens existing diseases. (Pg. 5)

"Long-term exposure to PM has negative effects on pregnancy and unborn children and is linked to lung cancer and decreased fertility. For example, a study of residents near Seattle SeaTac airport found a greater percentage of infants born prematurely or with low birth weight, higher hospitalization rates, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, stroke, COPD, higher death rates from all causes and lower life expectancy." (Pg. 5)

"Children, elderly people and those with existing conditions are the most vulnerable to the effects of noise and air pollution." (Pg. 6)

"Aircraft noise, emissions and the related health issues fall disproportionately on low-income communities and airport workers, often including a significant number of people of color and marginalized populations." (Pg. 6)


Some Solutions Put Forth for Alleviating Aviation Noise

  • Obligatory noise monitoring around all airports.
  • Transparent and publicly available noise mapping.
  • Reducing noise levels to WHO recommendations - 45DB during the day and 40DB at night.
  • Establishing nighttime flight bans at all airports.
  • Improved operational practices.
  • Reducing the number of flights. "Banning night flights, heavy long-haul flights, ultrasonic flights and non-essential short-haul and private jet flights are good ways to start."

See pg. 7 for additional details.

Some Solutions Put Forth for Alleviating Aviation Pollution

  • Establishing stricter, enforceable rules on pollution and particulate matter. "Aircraft regulations need to address the full range of emissions..."
  • Making technical improvements including the reduction of aromatics and other additives in jet fuel.
  • REDUCING AIR TRAFFIC! "We may wait a quarter century—or longer—for technological step-changes to come to fruition. Meanwhile, people will continue to suffer from pollution every day. Moreover, growth in the aviation industry will ultimately counter attempts to reduce pollution. The easiest and most efficient solution to reduce air pollution is to reduce the number of flights and airports."

See page 8 for additional details.

To read the entire report click here.

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