Study: Noise From LaGuardia Flight Path May Cause Serious Health Problems For Some Queens Residents
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An ear-opening study reveals that noise coming from planes going in and out of LaGuardia Airport could be shaving time off the lives of some Queens residents.
Tom Myers and his neighbors say the flight path over their Bayside, Queens, homes make them feel like they live at the airport.
"From 6 in the morning 'til even 9 o'clock at night. They're constantly bombarding you," Myers told CBS2's Hazel Sanchez on Wednesday.
"Some nights it's just like they're coming into the house, seriously," resident Claire O'Donohue added.
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Myers said the incessant aircraft noise is killing him and now a new study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, says the sound of blaring jet engines could actually shorten his lifespan.
"This is the year of healthy life that's being lost on average," Dr. Peter Muennig said.
Muennig, a professor of health policy and management at Columbia University, led the study. It looks at the flight path known as "Tennis Climb." The route goes over northeast Queens, and was originally used only during the US Open so aircraft noise wouldn't disrupt matches. But in 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration, after analyzing GPS data, decided to make it a year-round route in order to improve air traffic.
But Muennig said by reviewing other studies on the affect of aircraft noise, his study found the Tennis Climb route could cause serious health problems.
"Sometimes if they fly at night when people are trying to sleep, and it disrupts children studying, and just basically creates a lot of anxiety. And that anxiety translates into heart disease," Muennig said.
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The study has some local leaders calling for a flight path change.
"This is shocking and requires further study to reveal any additional impacts on human life," state Sen. Tony Avella said in a statement. "That is why, in conjunction with Assemblyman [Edward] Braunstein, I am committing to obtaining additional state funding for the Mailman School of Public Health to expand this study."
The FAA said it is reviewing the report.
