Could having noisy neighbours become a public health issue? A new study on urban noise, sleep disruption and health found that noise from one’s neighbours can significantly affect your sleep and, in turn, the long-term health outcomes. While the link between sleep deprivation and cardiovascular disease is relatively well-known, the study also found links to less well-documented ailments such as bone & joint problems and lung disease.

The study was conducted by Assistant Professor Fan Yi from NUS Business School’s Department of Real Estate and Associate Professor Diana Weinhold from the London School of Economics. The research was published in the journal Applied Economics in April 2022.

Asst Prof Fan said that numerous laboratory studies linked sleep disruption to a variety of poor health outcomes, though there may be limitations on the scope and duration of the studies to establish longer-term causal links. Social scientists still have a very limited understanding of the overall importance of sleep for health in the general population. Thus, the research team used a longitudinal survey (2008-2013) of over 5,000 Dutch adults to investigate the causal relationship between self-reported sleep disruption and health, particularly looking at variations in individual-specific exposure to neighbour noise.

The findings suggested that the neighbour noise, positively linked to sleep disruption, could lead to ill health over the long term. Neighbour noise, often viewed more as a nuisance, could be a public health issue.

Closer to home, Singapore has also seen reports of people’s health deteriorating due to disrupted sleep. HDB said that the number of cases relating to noise from residents’ activities, including renovation noise, increased from 2,500 cases a month in 2020 to 3,200 cases a month in 2021.

Asst Prof Fan said, “While neighbour noise has traditionally been viewed as more of a nuisance than a public health issue, growing evidence of the health costs associated with disrupted sleep should prompt serious discussion among policymakers and urban planners. Noise control becomes even more vital in a dense urban environment like Singapore, where most households reside in flats or apartments.”

She advocates for policymakers to use the I-ACT environmental health framework in improving noise pollution policies.

  • Information – Promoting knowledge of noise pollution’s impact on health to the public.
  • Awareness – Spreading awareness of hotlines that residents can turn to if they face noise issues, as well as tips on maintaining good neighbourhood ties.
  • Coordination – Various agencies can work together to set noise limits in residential settings. There could also be a dedicated task force for enforcing the rules.
  • Tools – Regulations and laws could come in place to create a quieter environment.

“Other measures to tune out noisy neighbours would be soundproofing the windows and rooms,” said Asst Prof Fan. “But above all, it is important to communicate with your neighbours cordially.”