1.    PARTICULATE EMISSIONS IMPACTS TO TREES AND PLANTS.  

Particulate matter deposits on leaves increase plant transpiration and the risk of plants suffering from drought. Particulate matter could thus be contributing more strongly to tree mortality and forest decline than previously assumed.

 2.    HEALTH IMPACTS FROM AIRCRAFT NOISE AND PARTICULATE EMISSIONS.  

 

There are numerous studies documenting the impacts to health from repeated, prolonged exposure.  These include:
 

• Airport noise can seriously affect the health and psychological well-being of children, including documented significant increases in blood pressure and stress hormones for children who live near airports.  (Munich Airport longitudinal study)

• Children subjected to flight path noise did not learn to read as well, because they tended to tune out speech.

• Infant mortality near SeaTac Airport was 50% greater, heart disease was 57% greater, cancer deaths were 36% greater, and life expectancy 36% shorter than for Seattle residents not living near airport.

• Aviation emissions around the world cause approximately 16,000 premature deaths a year.

• Jet exhaust subjects residents to extremely high concentrations of the carcinogens benzene formaldehyde and 1,3 butadiene, and at least 200 other toxic compounds. 

• High levels of aircraft noise were associated with increased risks of stroke, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease for both hospital admissions and mortality in areas near London Heathrow airport.  US study found statistically significant association between exposure to aircraft noise and risk of hospitalization for people living near airports.  

 
3.    NOISE POLLUTION IMPACTS TO WILDLIFE.  

 

• Noise pollution in protected areas impacts animal behavior that can have profound impacts on ecosystems that depend on the interactions between plants and wildlife. The New Routes concentrate flight paths over parks, protected open spaces, recreation areas, and wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains.

• Local “sensitive” urban species like hummingbirds, bluebirds, goldfinches, and mockingbirds may avoid areas that are too noisy due to aircraft flyovers.  (Source:  Draft Environmental Impact Statement for New Passenger Terminal, Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, October 1987).

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4.    DIMINUTION IN PROPERTY VALUE DUE TO AIRCRAFT NOISE.  

 

Study concluded that the higher the relative price of a property, the higher the diminution in value, with largest loss 22.5% - 29% for  premium housing and 19% loss for moderately-priced housing.  

(Source: Booz-Allen & Hamilton Inc., “The Effect of Airport Noise on Housing Values:  A Summary Report, “ Office of Environmental and Energy Federal Aviation Administration (September 15, 1994))