Study: Hawai‘i Has Less Pollution but Residents Sleep Less

Graphic courtesy of Mattress Firm.

Forty-four percent of Hawai‘i residents sleep less than seven hours per night, according to a new study released by researchers at Mattress Firm.

The study examined the relationship between pollution levels and sleep in all fifty states, and Hawai‘i residents sleep the least, despite Hawai‘i being the No. 9 least-polluted state in the nation.

Overall, no significant correlation was identified between aggregate pollution levels and sleep quality. However, the study found that residents living in states with less toxic water dumping and fewer days of poor air quality sleep better.

The study also indicated that the Food Service industry has the worst average pollution levels and sleep habits per state. Health Care and Social Assistance appeared as the industries with the best average sleep per state.

To reach these results, the study analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Lung Association (ALA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to determine combined overall pollution levels for each state. Those numbers were then compared with per-state sleep statistics from the CDC and data on leading state industries from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Overall, the study concluded that although combined pollution levels do not appear to significantly impact sleep, air quality and toxic water may be some cause for concern. Additionally, overall toxic release from waste management efforts does not appear to significantly impact sleep.