The urban acoustic environment is a serious risk factor of the living environment. The objective of our study was the objective evaluation of exposure to noise, comparison with the subjective response to noise and calculation and evaluation of the risk of urban noise on the health of a homogeneous group of university students studying and living in Bratislava (n=857). The authors used equipment of Brüel-Kjaer Co., and an authorized questionnaire on the discomfort caused by noise, the method of risk evaluation (odds ratio) and bivariate analysis. The environment of the students hostel where about half of our group lived was evaluated as a noisy area. A more quiet (control area) were the living quarters of the other part of the group. In the noisier part the equivalent noise levels varied within the zone of absolute noise according to Lehmannn, and the maximal noise levels were as high as 84 ± 6.4 dB/A. Investigations of the noise levels in the course of the day and night indicated the continuous character of noise in day time as well as during the night. Bivariate analysis revealed that repondents who live in the students hostel have a significantly greater risk of being disturbed by communal noise. In addition to noise caused by transport (OR=6.01; 95% CI=4.97; 7.95) proved in the analysis as a risk level similarly as noise from entertainment enterprises (OR=3.90; 95% CI=3.19; 5.46), from neighbouring flats (OR=2.43;95% CI=1.99;3.03) and from indus- try in the vicinity (OR=3.49; 95% CI =2.48; 4.21). Disturbing symptoms caused by the action of noise in the vegetative sphere with the highest risk in the noisy area were a sensation of fatigue and exhaustion (OR=1.68; 95% CI=1.29; 2.22) and difficulties with falling asleep (OR=1.49; 95% CI=1.16; 1.91). In noise caused by transport the authors evaluated in greater detail manifestations and sequelae of disturbance and interference in both groups. In the group from the noisier locality in the students hostel they observed a multiple increase of risk with regard to all manifestations of disturbances listed in the questionnaire. In investigations of sex as a biasing factor the authors did not reveal any substantial changes in the results of their analyses. The methodological possibilities as regards evaluation of the risk of exposure to noise were used in the author´s homogeneous group. With regard to the young age structure it is impossible so far to speak of health sequelae but only of an increased risk of some neurovegetative manifestations which are as a rule the basis of many diseases of civilization.

        Key words: exposure to noise - living environment - university students - neuro-