High Council for Health calls for a ban on night flights at Brussels Airport

In its report the High Council for Health says that at least 160,000 people that live near to the airport are at increased risk of adverse health effects such as disturbed sleep patterns, impaired lung function and changes in heart rhythm.

In late March, the Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (nationalist) granted a new environment permit to the company that operates the airport, the Brussels Airport Company. Ms Demir says that the permit strikes a balance between the economic interests of the airport and the interests of those that live in the surrounding area. The conditions of the permit do not include a complete ban on night flights.

However, the High Council for Health is in favour of a ban on night flights. The council was asked a year and a half ago by the federal government to formulate an opinion on the extent to which Brussels Airport affects the health of local residents. Its findings were published on Tuesday.

"Each year, the amount of scientific evidence of the harmful effects of noise grows," the council writes. "Noise leads to irritation and sleep problems. Research also shows that it is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, learning issues for school children and a negative impact on mental well-being, increasing the risk of depression."  

The High Council for Health also closely examined health issues linked to air pollution caused by aircraft. "Several studies show that in the short term particulate matter emissions from aircraft lead mainly to reduced lung function and changes in heart rhythm. In the longer term, there is a link of cardiovascular disease, and also, for example, lower birth weight in newborn babies."

To counter the negative health effects, the High Council for Health advocates banning flights between 11pm and 7am. The council also suggests developing additional formula for measuring noise nuisance that take into account how often aircraft fly over a given location and how loud they are at each time they fly over. The council also wants to see the concentration of flights in the early morning and evening scaled back. "In general, an increase in the number of flights and their frequency is not desirable," the council further advises.