Derailments and explosions aren't only worries for railroads' neighbors; noise and vibrations can cause health issues

Train tracks in Newberg, Oregon (Photo by David Herron, Unsplash)

The train explosion and controlled burn of hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio, reminded us that living near a railroad can be hazardous to your health and safety. But some health threats from rail are more chronic and unseen, "and while fiery crashes with towering smoke clouds make for lots of headlines, studies suggest trains carry health costs even when they don’t derail," reports Jason Bittel of National Geographic. "Noise pollution and vibrations are some of the biggest concerns, particularly for people who live within one-third of a mile of railroads or railyards, says Natalia Caldeira Loss Vincens, an expert in public health at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden."

“These exposures to noise and other things” are stressful, and chronic stress can lead to “a cascade of pathophysiological changes,” including inflammation, and changes in appetite or a person’s insulin sensitivity. "In a 2022 study in the journal Environmental Research, Vincens found a link between railway noise and incidences of diabetes, even when accounting for variables such as sociodemographic and lifestyle factors," Bittel reports.

Luca Fredianelli, an acoustic technician with the Italian National Council of Research, told Bittel, "If the sounds are quite stable, in the end, we do not perceive it at all." Bittel elaborates: "It’s the less intense but more unpredictable noises, such as squeals, whistles, and grinding brakes, that really bother people, since they’re difficult to acclimate to, he said."