SFO: Is the airport making Burlingamers fat?

Most of you probably are not up at 1:30 am or 2am, but I am--usually by choice.  The last three nights have had very bad runway backblast noise at that hour.  Between the Asia-Pac passenger and freight flights and US flights deadheading back east for the morning rush, it can get loud.  How loud?  Recall I had the airport put a temporary noise monitor in my yard for a couple weeks back in 2019 and the results were documented here.  30-50 second bursts of 65-68 dB were common.  How do we know that's too loud?  Because a recent academic study described here notes

A new study from researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health and Oregon State University (OSU) found that people who were exposed to aircraft noise levels at 45 decibels or more were more likely to have higher self-reported body mass index (BMI)—an indicator of general obesity, which can lead to cardiometabolic diseases, as well as a range of other health issues. A noise level of 45 decibels (dB) is just above the hushed tones of a library (40 dB) and quieter than a typical conversation at home (50 dB).

The researchers concluded that the highest BMI measures were linked to aircraft noise levels at 55 dB or above. Noise exposure at 45 dB or above was also associated with having higher BMI in middle to late adulthood from early adulthood.

In a 2023 study, Peters found aircraft noise—even as low as 45 db—increased the risk of sleeping less than seven hours a night. She notes that the distance someone could experience 45 dB of aircraft noise could reach out as far as 22 miles from a major airport.

Almost all of B'game is within about 4 miles of the airport with runways 1Left and 1Right pointed right away from us directing the engine run-up noise right at us.  The attempts to get some compensation for home noise improvements (i.e. great windows) and the loss of sleep/enjoyment of our properties went nowhere unless someone owned their home before 1980!  When Jackie Speier was in Congress, she made some attempts to change the law, but those haven't gone anywhere either.

Perhaps soon-to-be County supe Jackie Speier will light a fire under the County to take action against the City and County of SF who own and operate the airport.  It would have a lot more positive health impact than outlawing gas barbeques and stoves.  In the meantime, those extra pounds around our middles may not be entirely our fault--or Salt & Straw's or Pizza My Heart's fault.  "The airport made me do it".  Hat tip, Flip Wilson. 

Comments

[Joe]

Here is a bit more from the Boston University study:

For the study, the researchers examined aircraft noise exposure and self-reported BMI and other individual characteristics among nearly 75,000 participants living around 90 of the major US airports. The participants were selected from the Nurses’ Health Studies (NHS), ongoing prospective studies of participating female nurses who have completed biennial questionnaires since the 1970s and 1980s.

The team examined aircraft noise levels every five years from 1995 to 2010, using a day-night noise level (DNL) estimate that captures the average noise level over a 24-hour period and applies a 10 dB adjustment for aircraft noise occurring at night, when background noise is low. The current policy-related threshold for significant noise impacts is above DNL 65 dB. The researchers assessed BMI measures at multiple thresholds below that for the nurses’ geocoded residential addresses.

For now, Peters says, residents troubled by the rumble of aircraft can educate themselves—the Federal Aviation Administration has a series of primers and details for making a complaint—and advocate for lawmakers to consider the health implications of environmental noise.

“There are a growing number of people calling for federal funds to be allocated to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Noise Abatement and Control, which would reinstate the EPA’s authority to direct noise research and control activities,” she says. “We can also consider efforts to reduce the noise airplanes make and where and when airplanes fly, and to expand noise abatement programs, keeping in mind national and international considerations on our ability to travel and to get goods and services.”

[Cassandra]

One of the last scenes of Jackie’s retirement speeches was at the airport where she hoped something could be done about airport noise.

Welcome back.
Get it done.
We don’t sleep but the Chinese get plenty sleep due to their airports having 10pm curfews.

Consider it a national security issue…

Won’t someone think about the weight-challenged children?

[Jen]

explains a lot about my waistline

[Paloma Ave]

Awoken at 2:42 a.m., even with Ambien! This needs to improve.

[HMB]

I've lived most of my life near airports and spent three years living between Comm Ave and the Mass Pike (you can guess where I went to college). Which means I've been sleeping with earplugs most of my life. Love the silicone ones you can get these days -- soft, flexible, easy to clean. No airport noise--though my husband's snores sometimes break through --but he's literally breathing down my neck.

[Joe]

Sounds like you are a Golden Eagle, HMB. I use earplugs as well, especially when travelling, but I'm not sure they are as effective as we think for the very low frequency noise of the engine run-ups......

[Peter Garrison]

My rattling doors and windows can’t use earplugs.

[HMB]

A Terrier! BU, not BC, Joe! (And what a noisy place to live between the turnpike and Comm Ave with the Green Line adding its screech and rumble!)

[Peter Garrison]

Good ol’ fatty cargo jet trundled off to Korea last night at 3:38am.

Leaf blower ban starts July 1.

Come on airport noise ban after 11pm?