13 November 2015
ICANA: 3rd International Conference
ICANA: NORAH study at the centre of the 3rd International Conference on Active Noise Abatement
Frankfurt, 13 November, 2015. The NORAH study published at the end of October is the main focus of ICANA Health 2015. Over 150 national and international experts and interested professionals are attending the conference at Frankfurt Main airport.
The main topic of this year’s ICANA is the NORAH study. NORAH authors and Scientific Advisory Board on Quality Assurance present the methods and findings of the study to an audience of specialists. Afterwards, external consultants from both Germany and abroad give their opinions and report on their own research projects.
Scientists’ opinions
“Noise researchers worldwide are taking note of NORAH, because there is not currently a comparable study”, stated Prof. Rainer Guski, Head of the NORAH study. “Here at the ICANA we can now – after the public has been informed of the study – enter into a scientific debate too”. “What is so special about NORAH is the fact that an investigation was carried out on the impact of three different types of Traffic noise: rail, road and aviation traffic”, explained Prof. Martin Röösli from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, an associated institute of the University of Basel. He added: “NORAH attests that all three types of traffic noise increase cardiovascular risks. As the first major study of its kind, it shows a clear correlation between chronic noise pollution and depressions, which urgently requires further investigation”. Dr Elise van Kempen of the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) commented on the NORAH study on blood pressure. This was unable to prove the widespread notion that there is a link between chronic noise and blood pressure. “These findings are similar to those from research carried out to date”, van Kempen said, based on the findings of comparable studies. Dr Georg Thomann from the Agency for Nature and the Environment in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, remarked: “A major challenge facing the NORAH study was how to calculate the abundance of acoustic data, which it managed to overcome.”
Panel debate on noise research
A highlight of today, the second day of the conference is “Dialogue: Noise Research 2015”, a panel debate featuring Prof. Rainer Guski (Ruhr University Bochum), Prof Hajo Zeeb (Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine), Prof. Peter Lercher (University of Innsbruck) and Prof. Eberhard Greiser (University of Bremen).
ICANA 2016 Active Noise Abatement
This is now the third year of ICANA. The international conference attracts renowned experts to Frankfurt on every occasion. The next conference will take place in 2016 and focus on Active Noise Abatement. Günter Lanz, Managing Director of Gemeinnützige Umwelthaus GmbH and host of ICANA, said: “The first ICANA was not preceded by a number, and now it’s taking place for the third time. This is evidence that ICANA has become well established in its sphere. It promotes a dialogue among professionals in the industry on all topics concerning air noise, from active noise abatement to possible effects on health. Indeed, we look forward to continuing this series.”
Follow ICANA live on the Internet via livestream:
http://icana.umwelthaus.org
Photo material
Press photos from ICANA in high resolution for download:
The NORAH Study
The noise impact study NORAH (Noise-Related Annoyance, Cognition and Health) is the most comprehensive study ever conducted of the effects of aviation, rail and road traffic noise on the health and quality of life of the population. The NORAH research Consortium is made up of nine prominent research and technology institutions in the fields of medicine, psychology, social science, acoustics and physics. The investigations were carried out mainly in the Rhine-Main Region, and partially also in the regions around the airports Berlin -Brandenburg, Cologne/Bonn and Stuttgart. The client for the NORAH Study is the Umwelt- und Nachbarschaftshaus (UNH) in Kelsterbach, a subsidiary of the Land of Hessen. Alongside the land of Hessen, communities, Fraport, airlines and the UNH were also involved in the financing.
Gemeinnützige Umwelthaus GmbH
Rüsselsheimer Str. 100
65451 Kelsterbach
Tel. +49 6107 98868-0
Fax. +49 6107 98868-19