Quality of Life of Residents Living around Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi Airports in Bangkok

Abstract

Aircraft noise is considered as an environmental pollution which could adversely affect health,particularly quality of life, of residents living around the airport. This cross-sectional analytic study was aimed to determine quality of life (QOL) of residents around airports in Bangkok and to compare QOL of residents between those who were exposed to and unexposed to aircraft noise from July to September 2006 prior to Don Mueang Airport closure and the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Study sites, where noise exposure forecast (NEF) was higher than 35, were selected based on noise contour map. World Health Organization’s QOL questionnaire (Thai version) was used for data collection. Differences of means were tested by t-test and chi-square. Results revealed that residents living around Don Mueang Airport had significantly shorter duration of stay, higher level of education, than those around Suvarnabhumi Airport. The means QOL score of residents in both areas were at a medium level. Residents living around Don Mueang Airport had lower QOL scores than those around Suvarnabhumi Airport, without statistical significance. When stratified by 4 dimensions, the proportion of poor and medium environmental aspect of QOL in both areas was at the highest level, followed by social relationships, mental health and physical health, respectively. It was found that residents living around Don Mueang Airport had statistical significantly higher proportion of poor and medium physical and psychological QOL than those living around Suvarnabhumi Airport. But, there were no statistical significant difference in social and environmental aspect. This research suggested that aircraft noise could affect well-being of the residents living around the airports. The responsible public health offices should develop appropriate measure, particularly long term health surveillance system, to monitor quality of life of the residents living around the airports.