Policy Research Institute for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

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research as to what effect transportation has on health I

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Movement by means of transport causes stress due to crowding, traffic jams, and long hours of traveling. Over stress is undesirable for humans. But how these stress influence (human health), so far there are not many examples of analysis or research. At present we have no knowledge as to what kind of result we would get by improving transportation system, or of what kind of policy would bring about what kind of effect
With this purpose in mind, from the health point of view, we have taken public transportation as the first trial. We have analyzed and measured stress levels on commuters on public transport going to work on various physiological index.
In this report we have results of 3 terms of analysis.

Chapter1 is the result of research from 2002 November ~ December.
We have taken 5 male subjects, traveling by airplane (between Haneda and Kansai airports, between Haneda and Naha airports).
Public bus (between Shibuya and Shinbashi)
We have measured stress levels by testing the saliva, blood and urine after commuting.
Because there are 5 subjects it is difficult to make a statistical argument.
The stress factor in commuting by public transport

1. Airplane in the case of flying time required in domestic flights, the flying time being long does not necessarily cause stress.
2. The stress maybe more during take off in case of flying.
3. The stress maybe higher during return flights rather than while flying one way.
4. Commuters on buses, the stress is higher in case of over crowding and this is thought to lowers immunity.

Chapter 2 is the result of research from 2004 January.
With people using trains to commute to work, we have taken 50 males of 40 years of age and analyzed the stress related substances in their saliva, blood and urine in relation to the commuting condition.
In this report:

1. In the case of commuting by train, the body's stress release power drops according to the level of crowding (17-KS-S/CRE level drops in urine).
2. The time taken for commuting causes chronic fatigue easily (the concentration of Acylcarnitine falls)
3. In the group where the time taken in riding the train is subtracted from the total commuting time is more than 15 minutes the stress is less (the increase of Amylase in saliva is less) according to analyses.

Chapter 3 is the result of research from 2004 December.
We have done a longer study of the research done in chapter 2. We have extended the study by 1 week in train commuting and measured the fluctuation in the stress level.

1. Weekend (from Friday) the stress release power of the body rises.
2. The crowding level influences the daily stress levels and reorganization function.
3. Sleep and activity during holidays may have an effect on the stress fluctuation.
The above three have been analyzed.
We are not completely clear about the relation of stress on various physiological indexes. To put into practical use we have to wait for more academic progress.
Further it cannot be easily said that decreasing stress is desirable. A certain amount of stress is indispensable in life. But in this report we have been able to objectively express the stress caused during commuting in public transport, both from medical and physiological stand point. In future it will be possible to evaluate the transportation policy from the health prospective.


issue

Reports No.55/2005 Oct.

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