Do people react more strongly to aircraft noise today than in the past?

Some researchers have suggested that recent studies of aircraft noise annoyance indicate that people react more strongly to a given noise exposure level today than in the past, but is there good statistical evidence to support this hypothesis? This paper reviews the correspondence between aircraft noise exposure and annoyance responses reported in aircraft noise study analyses undertaken over a period of decades. Simple linear regression models and textbook statistical analyses are used to test the data. There are some indications of an upward trend in annoyance versus noise exposure over the last 25 years, but basic tests show that the statistical evidence for an upward trend is weak, and may simply be due to sampling and/or methodological differences between the studies. The survey collection method may play a role. In some cases, study participation rate effects may exaggerate community responses. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.