WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A new study finds that Whidbey Island residents could be suffering serious health problems from their exposure to aircraft noise.

Researchers at the University of Washington set out to explore if the noise from recently increased training at the Naval Air Station is causing any public health risks.

They found that over 74,000 people living on Whidbey Island are at risk of adverse health effects, including increased levels of stress, hearing disorders and difficulty sleeping.

Additionally, several schools are being exposed to noise levels that put them at risk of delays in childhood learning, specifically in reading and oral comprehension. Researchers also found that the aircraft noise exceeded thresholds set by federal regulators.

A federal judge ruled in 2022 that the U.S. Navy illegally expanded its Growler jet program on Whidbey Island after a lawsuit by the state Attorney General’s Office.