Lisbon, Dec. 22, 2024 (Lusa) - The noise from planes landing and taking off from Lisbon airport is damaging the functioning of the Júlio de Matos Hospital, where people with mental health problems are treated, and it has already replaced windows to minimise the problem.
Exposure to noise at this hospital of the São José Local Health Unit (ULS), which is very close to Humberto Delgado airport, has been monitored by teams from the then Lisbon Psychiatric Hospital Centre and now the São José ULS, in partnership with Portugal's airports managing company, ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, the São José ULS told Lusa.
Aircraft noise is " major constraint on the desirable functioning" of the Júlio de Matos Hospital, says the unit in its written response, explaining that this constraint has a particular effect because it is a hospital that primarily treats people with mental health problems.
"Measures have been taken [at the Júlio de Matos hospital], namely the replacement of windows under the Bairro - Acoustic Insulation programme, which has made it possible to minimise the negative effects caused by this contingency," it said.
Exposure to traffic noise, such as that from aircraft landings and take-offs, increases the risk of dementia and also of hypertension or diabetes, according to a study by the European Federation for Transport and the Environment, published in June, which links the ultrafine particles emitted by aeroplanes with the health of those living near Europe's 32 busiest airports.
In the case of Lisbon, the environmental association Zero pointed out at the time, there are around 414,000 people (around 4% of the Portuguese population) living within a five-kilometre radius of Humberto Delgado airport who are particularly exposed, suffering, according to the study, a 20% risk of dementia, a 12% risk of diabetes and a 7% risk of hypertension.
The upgrade works to expand Terminal 1 at Lisbon airport - one of the obligations imposed on ANA a year ago in a decision by the last Cabinet of António Costa's government - will be subject to an environmental impact assessment by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), including the planned maximum increase of up to 45 flights per hour.
"The environmental impact study (EIS) to be carried out must consider as a reference situation the number of flights declared in the request for prior appraisal for the ‘Pier Sul, Central e Apron Sul’ project (38 movements per hour) and its future evolution, namely until it reaches the maximum capacity of 45 movements per hour," it states in its report approved earlier this month.
VP/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
