[Social inequality and noise pollution by traffic in the living environment--an analysis by the German Federal Health Survey (Bundesgesundheitssurvey)].

AIM OF THE STUDY: The study deals with the relationship between socioeconomic status and the uneven distribution of noise pollution in residential areas. Based on the social indicators education, occupation, income and an index of socioeconomic status, the study investigates whether people of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to live in busier streets and to be more affected by traffic and noise pollution than others. MATERIAL: The German Federal Health Survey (Bundesgesundheitssurvey, BGS) is a representative survey of the health status of the adult population in Germany. The representative sample in question reflects the opinions of 6,644 individuals aged between 18 and 79 years who were asked to fill in a standardised questionnaire between autumn 1997 and spring 1999.
RESULTS: People of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to live in busy to extremely busy main roads and through roads. They feel significantly more often affected by traffic noise pollution. People of higher socioeconomic status are more likely to live in quiet environments. Essentially, all four social indicators reflect the social gradient of noise pollution, but their impact is differently weighted.
CONCLUSION: Noise pollution in environments is unevenly distributed, with people of lower socioeconomic status suffering more than others. In view of the increased social burden and assumed vulnerability experienced by lower socioeconomic groups, environmental objectives for protection from noise pollution should be developed which ensure a socially just distribution of environmental noise pollution in addition to avoiding danger to health.