Assessments of Low Frequency Noise Complaints among the Local Environmental Health Authorities and a Follow-up Study 14 Years Later

Abstract

Interviews among a selection of 37 of the 289 Swedish local Environmental Health Authorities (EHA) were undertaken in order to assess the occurrence of complaints on low frequency noise. The study also aimed to evaluate whether the specific guidelines on low frequency noise, adopted in 1996, were used and how they performed when assessing low frequency noise. The results showed that most complaints of low frequency noise were due to noise from fan- and ventilation installations, amplified music, compressors and laundryrooms. According to 46% of the EHA, complaints due to low frequency noise had increased during the last two years, while the same percentage reported no change. When assessing low frequency noise, 62% of the EHA reported that the specific guidelines on low frequency noise based on third octave band analysis performed better or much better compared to the previous A-weighted guideline, and only one EHA thought it performed worse.