Figure. Example of airport noise exposure data and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) sample sizes at the ZIP Code level for 2008 and 2009. The contours represent 3 airport noise exposure zones. Next to each ZIP Code geometric centroid is the number of respondents to the BRFSS survey in that ZIP Code. 

This figure represents one of the airports used in this study. The 3 noise exposure zones are generally centered on and extending outward from the airport’s 4 runways. The figure also shows the center (geometric centroid) of each nearby ZIP Code along with the number of BRFSS respondents in each. The zone with the highest level of airport noise (≥65 decibels [dB]) most closely surrounds the 4 runways. One ZIP Code geometric centroid is located in this zone, and it has 6 BRFSS respondents. Surrounding this zone is the zone with a noise level of 60 dB to less than 65 dB; 1 geometric centroid is in this zone and has 11 BRFSS respondents. Surrounding this zone is the noise zone of 55 dB to less than 60 dB; 2 geometric centroids are in this area; 1 centroid, almost on the border of the previous zone, has 9 respondents, and the other has 54 respondents. Outside the noise exposure zone, there are 27 geometric centroids, ranging in number of BRFSS respondents from 0 to 65. The area comprising the 3 noise exposure zones is irregularly shaped but is very roughly on average 15 miles long and 3 to 5 miles wide. This figure is intended to convey an idea of the relationship between airport noise exposure levels and the ZIP Codes nearby, along with an indication of the number of BRFSS respondents that live in each noise exposure level.

Return to article

Top