H5: Exposure to transport noise
Short Description
This indicator will track changes in the exposure of people to noise from transportation sources. It does not include neighbour and neighbourhood noise. The indicator will show the estimated number of people exposed to noise levels from road, rail and aircraft sources. The health costs (and hence burden to the economy) of noise can be estimated from health outcomes associated with noise exposure (such as annoyance, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular effects). The data for this indicator are derived through strategic noise mapping undertaken at 5-year intervals using Defra’s noise modelling system. Future rounds of mapping will be used to update this indicator accordingly.
Readiness and links to data
This indicator presents data derived from the mapping of 3 separate sources of transport noise: road (H5ai, H5aii), rail (H5bi, H5bii) and aircraft (H5ci, H5cii), with noise measured in decibels (dB), a unit used to measure the intensity of sound on a logarithmic scale. This means an increase of 10 dB equates to 10 times greater sound power. Similarly, a halving of sound power corresponds to a reduction of roughly 3 dB. The decibel scale can be weighted to reflect the non-linear response of average human hearing measured in dB(A); this is known as A-weighting. The number of people exposed to noise has been determined by overlaying a population dataset onto the strategic noise mapping for each source. Further work is underway creating a combined metric for exposure across all three sources of noise.
The day-evening-night level (Lden) is a noise indicator (used for H5ai, H5bi and H5ci) based on annual average A-weighted long-term sound over 24 hours with a 5 dB(A) penalty for evening noise (7pm to 11pm) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for nighttime noise (11pm to 7am).
The night level (Lnight) is a nighttime noise indicator (used for H5aii, H5bii and H5cii) based on annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the night period (11pm to 7am) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
The model for producing these data and additional noise exposure data for Defra depicts the soundscape of the nation by mapping every public road and railway at a 10m2 resolution. It enables health and biodiversity impacts to be assessed, the potential for soundscape and tranquil areas evaluations, and much more. Data for noise exposure are published as part of the strategic noise mapping.
Notes on indicator
For reference, example instantaneous sound levels have been provided. Exact values may vary, but these provide an indication of people’s exposure to transport noise.
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20 dB(A) – Whisper
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40 dB(A) – Library
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50 dB(A) – Moderate Rainfall
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60 dB(A) – Busy Office
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70 dB(A) – Vacuum Cleaner
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80 dB(A) – Alarm Clock
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100 dB(A) – Concert
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120 dB(A) – Jet take-off
Indicator components
Figure H5ai: Percentage of the population exposed to road transport noise across day, evening and night (Lden) in England, 2022
Table H5ai: Percentage of the population exposed to road transport noise across day, evening and night (Lden) in England, 2022
| Decibels | Road Lden percentage |
|---|---|
| 40 | 98.15 |
| 41 | 97.69 |
| 42 | 97.10 |
| 43 | 96.34 |
| 44 | 95.37 |
| 45 | 94.15 |
| 46 | 92.61 |
| 47 | 90.67 |
| 48 | 88.21 |
| 49 | 84.87 |
| 50 | 79.94 |
| 51 | 71.92 |
| 52 | 60.03 |
| 53 | 48.11 |
| 54 | 38.51 |
| 55 | 31.53 |
| 56 | 26.39 |
| 57 | 22.43 |
| 58 | 19.24 |
| 59 | 16.59 |
| 60 | 14.34 |
| 61 | 12.34 |
| 62 | 10.56 |
| 63 | 9.01 |
| 64 | 7.60 |
| 65 | 6.28 |
| 66 | 5.06 |
| 67 | 3.96 |
| 68 | 3.02 |
| 69 | 2.26 |
| 70 | 1.66 |
| 71 | 1.21 |
| 72 | 0.88 |
| 73 | 0.64 |
| 74 | 0.45 |
| 75 | 0.31 |
Trend description for H5ai
In 2022, the median exposure to a 24-hour weighted average noise level (Lden) from road traffic was 52 dB.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator as a suitable time series is not yet available in the Outcome Indicator Framework.
Figure H5aii: Percentage of the population exposed to road transport noise at night (Lnight) in England, 2022
Table H5aii: Percentage of the population exposed to road transport noise at night (Lnight) in England, 2022
| Decibels | Road Lnight percentage |
|---|---|
| 35 | 91.14 |
| 36 | 87.77 |
| 37 | 82.58 |
| 38 | 74.39 |
| 39 | 64.09 |
| 40 | 53.89 |
| 41 | 45.28 |
| 42 | 38.41 |
| 43 | 32.89 |
| 44 | 28.35 |
| 45 | 24.58 |
| 46 | 21.46 |
| 47 | 18.87 |
| 48 | 16.72 |
| 49 | 14.98 |
| 50 | 13.56 |
| 51 | 12.32 |
| 52 | 11.16 |
| 53 | 10.00 |
| 54 | 8.85 |
| 55 | 7.69 |
| 56 | 6.52 |
| 57 | 5.38 |
| 58 | 4.32 |
| 59 | 3.38 |
| 60 | 2.57 |
| 61 | 1.92 |
| 62 | 1.42 |
| 63 | 1.04 |
| 64 | 0.76 |
| 65 | 0.55 |
| 66 | 0.39 |
| 67 | 0.27 |
| 68 | 0.17 |
| 69 | 0.11 |
| 70 | 0.07 |
| 71 | 0.04 |
| 72 | 0.02 |
| 73 | 0.02 |
| 74 | 0.01 |
| 75 | 0.01 |
Trend description for H5aii
In 2022, the median exposure to a 24-hour weighted average noise level (Lden) from road traffic was 40 dB.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator as a suitable time series is not yet available in the Outcome Indicator Framework.
Figure H5bi: Percentage of the population exposed to rail transport noise across day, evening and night (Lden) in England, 2022
Table H5bi: Percentage of the population exposed to rail transport noise across day, evening and night (Lden) in England, 2022
| Decibels | Rail Lden percentage |
|---|---|
| 40 | 20.59 |
| 41 | 18.14 |
| 42 | 15.86 |
| 43 | 13.79 |
| 44 | 11.94 |
| 45 | 10.31 |
| 46 | 8.90 |
| 47 | 7.69 |
| 48 | 6.65 |
| 49 | 5.78 |
| 50 | 5.03 |
| 51 | 4.39 |
| 52 | 3.86 |
| 53 | 3.39 |
| 54 | 2.98 |
| 55 | 2.62 |
| 56 | 2.29 |
| 57 | 2.00 |
| 58 | 1.73 |
| 59 | 1.49 |
| 60 | 1.27 |
| 61 | 1.07 |
| 62 | 0.90 |
| 63 | 0.74 |
| 64 | 0.60 |
| 65 | 0.49 |
| 66 | 0.39 |
| 67 | 0.30 |
| 68 | 0.23 |
| 69 | 0.17 |
| 70 | 0.13 |
| 71 | 0.09 |
| 72 | 0.07 |
| 73 | 0.04 |
| 74 | 0.03 |
| 75 | 0.02 |
Trend description for H5bi
Although the percentage of the population exposed to railway noise has been mapped, there are insufficient data to calculate the median person’s exposure to a 24-hour weighted average noise level (Lden) from railway noise in 2022.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator as a suitable time series is not yet available in the Outcome Indicator Framework.
Figure H5bii: Percentage of the population exposed to rail noise at night (Lnight) in England, 2022
Table H5bii: Percentage of the population exposed to rail noise at night (Lnight) in England, 2022
| Decibels | Rail Lnight percentage |
|---|---|
| 35 | 13.71 |
| 36 | 11.85 |
| 37 | 10.22 |
| 38 | 8.80 |
| 39 | 7.58 |
| 40 | 6.53 |
| 41 | 5.65 |
| 42 | 4.90 |
| 43 | 4.26 |
| 44 | 3.73 |
| 45 | 3.26 |
| 46 | 2.85 |
| 47 | 2.50 |
| 48 | 2.18 |
| 49 | 1.89 |
| 50 | 1.63 |
| 51 | 1.40 |
| 52 | 1.19 |
| 53 | 1.00 |
| 54 | 0.83 |
| 55 | 0.68 |
| 56 | 0.55 |
| 57 | 0.44 |
| 58 | 0.34 |
| 59 | 0.26 |
| 60 | 0.20 |
| 61 | 0.15 |
| 62 | 0.11 |
| 63 | 0.08 |
| 64 | 0.06 |
| 65 | 0.04 |
| 66 | 0.03 |
| 67 | 0.02 |
| 68 | 0.01 |
| 69 | 0.01 |
| 70 | 0.00 |
| 71 | 0.00 |
| 72 | 0.00 |
| 73 | 0.00 |
| 74 | 0.00 |
| 75 | 0.00 |
Trend description for H5bii
Although the percentage of the population exposed to railway noise has been mapped, there are insufficient data to calculate the median person’s exposure to a nighttime noise level (Lnight) from railway noise in 2022.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator as a suitable time series is not yet available in the Outcome Indicator Framework.
Figure H5ci: Percentage of the population exposed to air transport noise across day, evening and night (Lden) in England, 2022
Table H5ci: Percentage of the population exposed to air transport noise across day, evening and night (Lden) in England, 2022
| Decibels | Air Lden percentage |
|---|---|
| 50 | 1.75 |
| 51 | 1.38 |
| 52 | 1.08 |
| 53 | 0.85 |
| 54 | 0.69 |
| 55 | 0.56 |
| 56 | 0.45 |
| 57 | 0.34 |
| 58 | 0.25 |
| 59 | 0.19 |
| 60 | 0.14 |
| 61 | 0.10 |
| 62 | 0.07 |
| 63 | 0.05 |
| 64 | 0.03 |
| 65 | 0.01 |
| 66 | 0.01 |
| 67 | 0.00 |
| 68 | 0.00 |
| 69 | 0.00 |
| 70 | 0.00 |
| 71 | 0.00 |
| 72 | 0.00 |
| 73 | 0.00 |
| 74 | 0.00 |
| 75 | 0.00 |
Trend description for H5ci
Although the percentage of the population exposed to aircraft noise has been mapped, there are insufficient data to calculate the median person’s exposure to a 24-hour weighted average noise level (Lden) from aircraft noise in 2022.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator as a suitable time series is not yet available in the Outcome Indicator Framework.
Figure H5cii: Percentage of the population exposed to air transport noise at night (Lnight) in England, 2022
Table H5cii: Percentage of the population exposed to air transport noise at night (Lnight) in England, 2022
| Decibels | Air Lnight percentage |
|---|---|
| 45 | 0.75 |
| 46 | 0.62 |
| 47 | 0.52 |
| 48 | 0.43 |
| 49 | 0.32 |
| 50 | 0.24 |
| 51 | 0.18 |
| 52 | 0.13 |
| 53 | 0.10 |
| 54 | 0.07 |
| 55 | 0.05 |
| 56 | 0.03 |
| 57 | 0.02 |
| 58 | 0.01 |
| 59 | 0.00 |
| 60 | 0.00 |
| 61 | 0.00 |
| 62 | 0.00 |
| 63 | 0.00 |
| 64 | 0.00 |
| 65 | 0.00 |
| 66 | 0.00 |
| 67 | 0.00 |
| 68 | 0.00 |
| 69 | 0.00 |
| 70 | 0.00 |
| 71 | 0.00 |
| 72 | 0.00 |
| 73 | 0.00 |
| 74 | 0.00 |
| 75 | 0.00 |
Trend description for H5cii
Although the percentage of the population exposed to aircraft noise has been mapped, there are insufficient data to calculate the median person’s exposure to a nighttime noise level (Lnight) from aircraft noise in 2022.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator as a suitable time series is not yet available in the Outcome Indicator Framework.