Association between aircraft noise levels and deprivation

There is limited evidence on socioeconomic distribution of noise exposure. Noise data (Lden, Laeq24, Lnight, Levening, and Lday) were available for London Heathrow airport for 2014-18. These were linked with different measures of deprivation: the Carstairs deprivation index (UK Census-derived), fuel poverty rate and the avoidable death rate. Using Carstairs, mean noise levels were slightly higher in more deprived areas for most noise metrics, especially for Lnight (~2dB between least and most deprived Carstairs quintiles). However, Leve had slightly lower mean noise levels in the most deprived quintile (~0.5dB difference). A clear pattern of higher mean noise levels with deprivation was seen using avoidable death rates (~4dB difference between lowest and highest quintile for Lnight). Conversely, mean noise levels were slightly lower in more deprived quintiles of fuel poverty. Differences have been further quantified using a random-effects model, accounting for year. Heathrow airport is situated close to highly populated areas, some of which are very wealthy, so may not be representative of other airports. Results will be discussed with community groups near Heathrow prior to Internoise 2022. As air transport increases post-pandemic, information on noise exposures as well as views from community groups can inform future airport policies