The constant barrage of noise from planes arriving and taking off at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport could cause more cardiovascular disease, anxiety and low birth weights for its neighbors.
released this month by the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy discovered that the hidden price tag linked to treating those health issues could morph to over $800 million over the next 30 years.
鈥淚f you put it at the population level, for those people impacted, it鈥檚 going to be a huge medical burden and a huge health burden,鈥� said Dr. Zafar Zafari, the assistant professor who conducted the study with graduate student Jeong-eun Park.
Zafari鈥檚 team of researchers decided to tally the hidden costs of aircraft noise on cardiovascular disease, anxiety and mental illness and low birth weight in babies.
Back in 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration adopted an automated flight system at airports nationwide. The new technology routed planes to curb delays. But the number of complaints from airport neighbors spiked.
One of the most striking aspects of the study, Zafari said, is the rising costs to treat the youngest residents: babies born with low birth weights.
鈥淚f indeed a baby has a higher chance of low birth weight, the family has to incur the medical costs, delivery costs, particularly in the first five years,鈥� Zafari said. 鈥淏ut also low birth weight, over a lifetime, increases mortality. For these babies, [the cost] is for their entire life.鈥�
The figures are not applicable to every person living near the flight path, Zafari said. Between 60% and 70% of residents won鈥檛 be affected by the planes鈥� path, he said, because they鈥檙e generally healthy.
The best use of the study, he added, is to help guide future healthcare policies.
鈥淧revention is the best treatment,鈥� Zafari said. 鈥淎ir and noise pollution over a lifetime increases risks of different diseases. Those diseases have costs, and most people think about out-of-pocket costs. But, if you think about the societal impact, then this becomes pretty significant.鈥�
