Noise and mental health: evidence, mechanisms, and consequences

This peer-reviewed review examines how environmental noise exposure — particularly from traffic sources — affects mental health, synthesizing evidence that links chronic noise to depression, anxiety, elevated suicide risk, and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. The authors detail biological mechanisms including neuroinflammation, cerebral oxidative stress, and HPA axis activation triggered by noise-induced stress. Advocates can use this research to strengthen health-based arguments against data center noise impacts in permitting, environmental review, and community oversight processes.