MITIGATION OF HEALTH RISKS DUE TO ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE BY THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATION IN THE URBAN AREAS

Abstract

 Road traffic noise is linked to a myriad of adverse health effects including environmental sleep disorder, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The health impacts are a growing concern globally. To reduce the health effects associated with road traffic noise, a shift from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to electric vehicles (EVs) may be a transformative approach. In this paper, we focused on the health effects due to road traffic noise, and aimed to explore the potential of health risks reduction by transitioning to EVs in urban areas. Firstly, we calculated sound level in two areas with two different traffic flow situations: current traffic flows with ICEVs and the prospective ones with EVs. Next, we estimated the population affected with ischaemic heart disease and high sleep disturbance according to the exposure-response relationships established by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe and the national health statistics and surveys in Japan to elucidate the contribution of the transition to EVs. While the estimated reduction in sound level was less than 4 dB (even if all vehicles were changed to the EV), the affected population were reduced by approximately several tens of percent, hence, the total health risks due to road traffic noise would significantly reduce by the shift to EVs. A rapid transition to EVs is desirable to mitigate health risks due to road traffic noise as well as global warming.