Noise and PM2.5 levels in children's park adjacent to airport

Abstract

Background: Sanuki Kodomo-no-Kuni Children's park adjacent to Takamatsu airport is a facility where visitors can watch airplanes take off and land up close and learn about science and technology. However, because it is not a school facility, the hygienic conditions such as noise and PM2.5 levels are not well known despite the current situation where many infants and elementary school students use this facility. Method: Noise and PM2.5 levels were measured at a point in the park 170 m from the runway center. Rsults: Three takeoffs and three landings were made during the measurement period. Instantaneous noise levels of 92.5 to 96.5 dB(A) were recorded during takeoff and 79.9 to 82.2 dB(A) during landing. The PM2.5 level every 30 minutes was 8 μg/m3 at the beginning of the measurement, but 21 μg/m3 was measured at the end, and a trend of increasing PM2.5 levels over time was observed. Conclusion: Noise levels during takeoffs and landings were instantaneous but high. Since previous studies have reported health effects of chronic exposure to aircraft noise, including misbehaviours in young children, memory loss in school children, increased birth rate of low birthweight infants, and hearing loss due to chronic exposure. It was considered desirable to avoid excessive exposure to aviation noise.