Criteria for acceptable levels of the Shinkansen Super Express train noise and vibration in residential areas

Criteria for acceptable levels of the Shinkansen Super Express train noise and vibration in residential areas

Journal of Sottnd and Vibration (1982) 84(4), 573-591 CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF T H E S H I N K A N S E N SUPER EXPRESS T R A I N NOISE A N D...

1007KB Sizes 0 Downloads 16 Views

Journal of Sottnd and Vibration (1982) 84(4), 573-591

CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF T H E S H I N K A N S E N SUPER EXPRESS T R A I N NOISE A N D V I B R A T I O N IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS K. YAMANAKA, W-. NAKAGAWA, f . KOBAYASHI, S. KANADA, M. TANAHASHI, T. MURAMATSU AND S. YAMADA

Department of Public Health, Nagoya University School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho Showaku Nagoya, 466 Japan (Received 17 August 1981, and in revised form 20 February 1982) A survey of 1187 housewives living in 18 areas along the Shinkansen Super Express (bullet train) railway was conducted by means of a self-administered health questionnaire (modified Cornell Medical Index). In addition, geographically corresponding measurements of noise level and vibration intensity were taken. The relationship of noise and vibration to positive responses (health complaints) related to bodily symptoms, illness and emotional disturbances was analyzed. The factors which correlated with an increase in the average number of positive responses included noise, vibration, age and health status. Such factors as marital status, educational level, part time work, duration of inhabitancy and occupation of the head of the houshold correlated poorly with the number of positive responses. Unhealthy respondents compared to healthy respondents are more frequently affected by noise and vibration. The rate of positive responses in the visual, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems, sleep disturbances and emotional disturbances increased accordingly as noise and vibration increased. Combined effects of noise and vibration stimuli on the total number of positive responses (an indicator of general health) were found. This study has produced results indicating that the maximum permissible noise level should not exceed 70 dB(A) in the residential areas along the Shinkansen railway. 1. INTRODUCTION Since O c t o b e r 1964, the Shinkansen Super Express train has covered a 515 k m distance between T o k y o and O s a k a in 3 h 10 min with a m a x i m u m speed of 210 k m / h . In March 1975, the line between Osaka and H a k a t a was opened and other lines are now under construction or contemplation in several areas of Japan. In Nagoya city the line was constructed at a height of 6 m or so above the ground near residential houses without a sufficient buffer zone. People have complained of the train noise and vibration since the opening of the railway. The bullet train noise and vibration levels rise rapidly and are high when the train passes. T h e relationship between noise and vibration varies considerably with the state of the ground. T h e characteristic noise and vibration caused by the bullettrain is different from those of other transportation vehicles such as aircraft, cars, trucks and trains. A literature search revealed studies of the relationship of the bullet train noise to annoyance, conversation interference and sleep disturbances, but little work on the effects of the noise together with the vibration on physical and emotional health. With a self-administered questionnaire, housewives living in close proximity to the railway were surveyed to determine if there is a relationship between the incidence of physical a n d / o r emotional disturbances and long term exposure to noise and vibration. 573 0022--460x/82/200573 + 19 $03.00/0 9 1982 Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited

;74

K. Y A M A N A K A E T A L .

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS ..1. N O I S E A N D V I B R A T I O N M E A S U R E M E N T S

Noise and vibration measurements were taken outdoors at 144 sites (12.5, 25, 50 and 00 m perpendicular to the railway at intervals of 200 m) in Nagoya city in December :973 and January 1974. Noise measurements were carried out by recording the peak noise level of each of he trains passing; an A-weighted calibration and a fast dynamic response were used. libration measurements were carried out by reading the peak vertical vibration intensity velocity in mm/s) with a fast dynamic response. From the data, noise and vibration :ontours were drawn for a 7 km stretch of the railway. ~.2. H E A L T H S U R V E Y Eighteen sites without noise and vibration from major sources other than the bullet rain were chosen in the areas within 150 m of either side of the track. The sample ncluded 1331 housewives aged 18 years and over, who were not employed outside the lome. One thousand one hundred and eighty seven health questionnaires (modified 2ornell Medical Index (CMI) [1-3]) were distributed and were collected in March 1975. Fhe CMI was originally designed as a screening procedure aid to clinical diagnosis, and 7r subsequently developed for use in epidemiology. The questionnaire used consists of 18 sections totalling 208 questions. Twelve sections Ire concerned with pathological symptoms related to, respectively, eyes and ears (12 tuestions), respiratory system (19), cardiovascular system (15), digestive system (22), aausculoskeletal system (9), skin (8), nervous system (18), urogenital system (16), fatigue 18), frequency of illness (7), miscellaneous diseases (13) and habits (10). Six sections are :oncerued with questions about mood and emotional patterns, including feelings of nadequacy (12), depression (4), anxiety (9), sensitivity (5), anger (5) and tension (9). In tddition, seven queslions not included in the original CMI, were added dealing with :oncentration disturbances. They were made on the basis of the complaints of people living along the railway. All these questions have "yes" or "no" responses exclusively, and each "yes" response '~positive response) indicates that the particular symptom or disorder is present or has accurred in the past. In general, the analysis was based upon the total number of positive responses. Further questions were asked concerning background variables such as age, health status, material of house, part time work, education, length of residency, marital status and occupation of the head of the household. The actual purpose of the investigation was masked by presenting the interview as a general study of the respondent's health condition. The questionnaire used is given in the Appendix. 3. METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS By using the noise level contours the respondents' residences were categorized into five outdoors noise level groups: <~69 dB(A) (code No), 70-74 dB(A) (NI), 75-79 dB(A) (N2), 80-84 dB(A) (N3) and >~85 dB(A) (N4). Similarly the vibration intensity values at the residences were categorized into four groups: <~0.29 mm/s (code Vo), 0.300.49 mm/s (V0, 0.50-0.99 mm/s (V2) and/>1.00 mm/s (V3). Accordingly, as combined, 4 3 noise and vibration categories, 20 groups (~=o ~i=oN~V/) could exist theoretically, but in actuality only 16 groups existed since there were no groups of certain low noise and

SHINKANSEN

NOISE

AND

VIBRATION

CRITERIA

F ~

v

v

,-.

O~

t"-

t'-

U.1 ,d

<

.! ,.--w , - w , . ~ !

o",~0

tl

C',l

",0

II

I

"~

t~ r

~-1

0

i

~

i ~ 4 I

I

~.. 0 0 0

9

5=

!

!

9

575

576

K. Y A M A N A K A E T A L .

high vibration types as shown in Table 1. Based on geographical location of residence and corresponding noise and vibration levels thee 1187 respondents were assigned to the appropriate group. Group NoVo (low noise, low vibration) was used as the control group. The relationship between the average number of positive responses in 190 questions (except for 12 questions concerning family and six questions concerning menstruation) and factors such as noise, vibration, age, health status, education, etc., was studied by using multivariate analysis (the quantification method of Hayashi [4]) and univariate analysis. The regression coefficient of the rate of positive responses on noise level or vibration intensity in each question (196 questions except for 12 questions concerning family) was used to clarify which questions were related to noise and/or vibration. The regression coefficient was calculated according to the formula of Snedecor and Cocran [5]. Following this, eight questions which were closely related to noise and vibration were further analyzed. 4. RESULTS 4.1. CHARACTERISTICSOF NOISE AND VIBRATION The bullet train passed through the residential areas studied once every five minutes, starting at 6.30 a.m. and continuing till 11.20 p.m. daily. A photograph of the train is shown in Figure 1. The change in sound level, when plotted against time, has a shape

Figure 1. A photograph of the bullet train in Nagoya city.

like a trapezoid, with a 7.5 s duration of the peak sound level with steep slopes (15 dB(A)/s), as shown in Figure 2. High noise-low vibration was measured at a site near the iron railway bridge, but as previously mentioned there were no sites with low noise-high vibration. The measured background noise level and vibration intensity of the areas investigated were 55-60 dB(A) and lower than 0.1 mm/s, respectively, during the day. 4.2.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN T H E A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF POSITIVE RESPONSES AND B A C K G R O U N D FACTORS

The number of positive responses was computed. The number ranged from 0 to 114, with a mean of 32.8 and median of 30. Age of respondents ranged from 19 to 79 years. The average number of positive responses for respondents under 45 years of age was 30, and for the group 45 years of age and over the average was 38 (see Figure 3).

577

S I t l N K A N S E N NOISE A N D V I B R A T I O N C R I T E R I A 90

I

I

I

i

I IO

I 15

I 20

80

~ 7o N 6o 50

i

O

5

Time(s)

Figure 2. Time pattern of the bullet train noise (peak level 83 dB(A), peak duration 7.5 s, distance from the track 25 m).

"~ ,~ ~ -~ ~, ~) = ~

19-Z4 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49

~ 50-54

~-~ 55-59 9 60-64 o 65-69 70-79

I

(55) (128) (165) (146) (143)

|

I

I

(132) (112) (88) (84) (re) (56) 0

I

I

I

I

I0

20

30

40

50

_

Average number of posilive responses 51

Figure 3. The average number of positive responses to 190 questions according to age in years.

52

Unhealthy respondents, which were defined as respondents receiving medical care at a clinic or hospital, gave an extremely high number of positive responses compared with healthy respondents, as indicated in Table 2. The number of positive responses increased with increasing noise level (see Table 3). In healthy respondents, the number of positive responses remained unchanged at a noise level of less than 79 dB(A), and increased when a noise level exceeded 80 dB(A). In unhealthy respondents, the number of positive responses increased with increasing noise level. Table 4 shows an increase of number of positive responses with increasing vibration intensity from both healthy and unhealthy respondents. The standard deviation of high TABLE 2

Average number o/positiue responses to

190 questions by health

status Healthy Number of respondents

Average number of positive responses

893 29.6

Unhealthy 294 42.6**

The difference in the average number is significant at the 1% level(**) compared to healthy respondents, according to the Student t-test (twotailed).

K. YAMANAKA ET AL.

578

TABLE 3

Average nttmber of positive responses to 190 questions accordhzg to noise level Noise (dB(A)) ~<69 Healthy Number of respondents Average number of positive responses Standard deviation Unhealthy Number of respondents Average number of positive responses Standard deviation

192

70-74

75-79

80-84

~>85

175

214

253

59

26.7 18.8

28.1 19.7

27.4 18.5

33.1"* 22.1

36.5** 21.7

52

63

84

80

15

33.3 18.4

40.4 21.6

43.8** 23.0

47.2** 22.2

53.4** 23.0

Total 893 29.6 20.3 294 42.6 22.2

The difference in the average number is significant at the 1% level (**) compared with the group (~<69 dB(A)) according to the Student t-test (two-tailed).

TABLE 4

Average number o/positive responses to 190 questions according to vibration intensity Vibration (ram/s) ~<0.29 Healthy Number of respondents Average number of positive responses Standard deviation Unhealthy Number of respondents Average number of positive responses Standard deviation

388 26.8 18.3 122 38.0 20.7

0.30-0.49 187

0.50-0.99 221

>11.00

Total

97

893

28.9 20.6

32.0** 21.2

36.8** 22.8

46

87

39

45.8* 26.2

45.9** 20.4

46.2* 23.5

29.6 20.3 294 42.6 22.2

The difference in the average number is significant at the 1% level (**), 5% level (*) compared with the group (~<0.29 ram/s) according to the Student t-test (two-tailed).

noise or high vibration was higher than in low noise or vibration, except for the 26.2 result in the 0 . 3 0 - 0 . 4 9 m m / s vibration range. Table 5 shows the number of positive responses of the healthy and unhealthy respondents in relation to the noise-vibration groups. Noise levels N3 and N4 were combined in Table 5 because of the small number of respondents in the groups N4Vo, N4V1, N4V2 and N4V3. Although the respondents' age correlated with the number of positive responses, they were not divided according to age because there was not a marked difference in age distribution in 12 noise-vibration groups. In healthy respondents, the number of positive responses at a noise level of above 75 dB(A) increases with increasing vibration intensity. On the other hand, the number of positive responses at a vibration intensity of less than 0.29 m m / s and above 0-50 m m / s increases with increasing noise level. A stepwise increase of number of positive responses in unhealthy respondents is

579

SttlNKANSEN NOISE AND VIBRATION CRITERIA

1

I

I

I

'

,

"

,,I

I

I

J

Q~

c~ 0 II 0

T

.5 o

E ~

o.,-

~

o

o

~

u

o

. . . .

~0~ o

>

o

~, ~ 8 ,~.-~ ~ V,T. ~o ~~E ~~ -~ ~' ~" ~ ~ i~i ._o,~_ o ^ \ -~' o( ~~ - ~v)oo-'~= u} o . o

~r

e= J~ 0

_o

0

!

!

II I

o~o

Jill

,

J~

r

8

? C.Q 0

T

._~

.,~

~.~

~ o

VIol,,

6 v/

~-~-o

~ o

O~

O~

~,o

0JoJ.~r~o~ O~OLOOa')O~O~O

-

9

6

6

A\

<

z

580

K. Y A M A N A K A E T A L . TABLE 5

Auerage nun~ber of positiue responses to 190 questions by noise leuel, vibration intensity and health status Vibration intensity (mm/s) Healthy ~>1.00 0.50-0.99 0.30-0.49 ~<0.29 Unhealthy ~>1.00 0.50-0.99 0.30-0.49 ~<0.29

~<69

Noise level (dB(A)) ,, 70-74 75-79

t>80

26.7

26.1 30.1 27"0

31"7 29"0 26'9 24"7

37"6** 34"3** 30'6 28"5

33"1

45.5 42'6 38"4

41.8 43"0* 48"4* 42"8

46.9** 49"0** 47"4* 50"3*

The difference in the average number is significant at the 1% level (**), 5% level (*) compared with the group (NoVo: ~<69 dB(A), ~<0.29 mm/s) according to the Student t-test (two-tailed).

seen only at a noise level of 7 0 - 7 4 dB(A), and a vibration intensity of less than 0.29 m m / s and above 1.00 mm/s. However, the statistically significant increase of number of positive responses (compared with those from the NoVo group) is seen in high noise-vibration groups except for the group (75-79 dB(A), >11.00 mm/s). The relationship between the number of positive responses and these factors was further analyzed by using the quantification method. This method is similar to multiple regression analysis with dummy variables. The number of positive responses in 190 questions in this investigation was regarded as an outside variable, which was estimated from 10 factors (10 items and 45 categories, as shown in Figure 4). The data used in this method was based on 1060 respondents because 127 respondents had left some questions unanswered and were therefore excluded. TABLE 6

Partial and multiple correlations between items and the number of positive responses by the quantification methods (n = 1060)

Item Noise and vibration Age-group (years) Health condition House construction material Part time work Education Length of residence Marital status Dependents (children, etc.) Occupation of head of household Multiple correlation

Number of categories

Partial correlation

12 11 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 6

0.196 0.107 0.217 0'035 0.038 0.049 0.032 0.033 0'028 0.072 0.357

SHINKANSEN NOISE AND VIBRATION CRITERIA

581

Table 6 shows multiple correlation and partial correlations obtained by the quantification method when the number of positive responses was estimated from 10 factors. It can be seen in Table 6 that the number of positive responses is more frequently affected by noise and vibration, and health status compared with other factors. Figure 4 shows the scores given in each of the categories and items. Categories with positive scores show an increased number of positive responses, and categories with negative scores show a decreased number of positive responses. The results obtained by using the quantification method of analysis to determine the relationship between the number of positive responses and noise-vibration, age and health status were similar to the results obtained by using univariate analysis. The relationship between the number of positive responses and other factors is indicated in Figure 4 with scores averaging 0 except for the - 5 scores for "university" in the education item and "clerical" in the occupation of head of household item. 4.3. RELATIONSHIP BET~,VEENTHE RATE OF POSITIVE RESPONSES PER QUESTION AND NOISE AND VIBRATION The number of questions with statistically significant positive regression coefficients of the rate of positive responses on noise level and vibration intensity is 52 and 71, respectively, out of 196 questions. Questions related to noise were distributed mainly in nine out of 18 sections: eyes and ears, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and nervous systems, habits, feeling of inadequacy, depression and tension. In addition, questions concerning concentration

oowH 6O

I'3

40 20 0

to,

"6

tr

re3

tr

N2

/r

~V4

60

tw

vt

40 20

o

t~2

tvs

~4

40

V~

20 0

/vo

Jr,

tr 2

~v3

~4

Noise level (dB(A))

Figure 5. The percentage of respondents with positive response to question No. 149 "Are you easily awakened from sleep?" according to noise level and vibration intensity.The differencein the rate is significant at the 1% level (**), 5% level (*) compared with the group (NoVo).

K. YAMANAKA ET AL.

582

disturbances were related to noise. Questions related to vibration were seen in the following sections: musculoskeletal system, fatigue and anxiety, in addition to sections related to noise and concentration disturbances. The number of questions related to both noise and vibration totals 41. The rate of positive responses to each question in each of the 16 noise-vibration groups was computed for a more detailed analysis. Figure 5 shows the rate of positive responses to the question " A r e you easily awakened from sleep?", a typical example of a question related to noise and vibration. The rate of positive responses in NoVo was the lowest in the 16 groups, and increased with the increasing level of noise and vibration (see Figure 5). Eight questions which were closely related to noise and vibration and had a statistically significant (p < 0.05) high rate of positive responses in at least three out of four groups of high noise and high vibration (N4 V3, N41/'2, N3 V3 and Na V2), as compared to that in NoVo, were as follows: " D o you often feel strain in your eyes?", " D o you usually get up tired and exhausted in the morning?", " D o you usually have difficulty in falling asleep?", " A r e you easily awakened from sleep?", " D o you often yawn?", " A r e you easily upset or irritated?", " D o sudden noises make you jump or shake badly?", " D o you often have difficulty to think clearly?". There were no questions related only to noise or only to vibration. 4.4. THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE RESPONSES IN THE EIGHT QUESTIONS CLOSELY RELATED TO NOISE AND VIBRATION Table 7 shows that the number of positive responses of healthy respondents increases at a noise level of above 80 dB(A) and a vibration intensity of above 0-50 mm/s. In contrast, the number of positive responses of unhealthy respondents increases at a noise level of above 70 dB(A) or at a vibration intensity of above 0.30 mm/s. This relationship is expressed graphically in Figure 6. From this figure clear divisions are evident between the high noise-high vibration groups (t>80 riB(A), I>0.50 mm/s) and other groups (<~79 dB(A), <-0.49 mm/s) in healthy respondents, and between the group NoVo and other groups (~>70 dB(A), ~>0.30 mm/s) in unhealthy respondents. TABLE 7

Average nunzber of positive responses to eight questions by noise level, vibration intensity and health status Vibration intensity (mm/s) Healthy ~>1.00 0.50-0.99 0.30-0.49 ~<0.29 Unhealthy ~>I.00 0.50-0.99 0.30-0.49 ~<0.29

r<~69

Noise level (dB(A)) ,, 70-74 75-79

>/80

TM

1.9

1.9 2.2 2.1

2"2 2"4 2.0 2"1

3"3** 3"1"* 1"8 2"1

2"1

3"8** 2"7 2.7

3"6 3"2** 3"5* 2.9

4.0** 4"0** 3"1 3"7*

The differencein the average number is significantat the 1% level (**)05% level (*) compared with the group (NoVo:<~69dB(A), ~<0-29mm/s) according to the Student t-test (two-tailed).

SHINKANSEN

NOISE AND

VIBRATION

5t i

CRITERIA

583

~4

"~ 3

~

9

I 2

l!~ oo~

000

Heolthy Unheolthy Figure 6. The average numberof positiveresponses to eight questions by health status and noise-vibration groups, | I~, Controlgroup: NoVo; @II, high noise and high vibrationgroups: N3.4V3,N3.4V2.

5. DISCUSSION Due to the unique characteristics of the noise and vibration caused by the bullet train, acceptability criteria based on previous studies of the effects of other types of environmental noise on man could not be regarded as applicable and there was an obvious need for researches specifically on the consequences of man's prolonged exposure to the noise and vibration of the bullet train. In 1972, eight years after the Shinkansen railway first opened, the Director General of the Environmental Agency submitted to the Minister of Transportation recommendations relating to the bullet train noise. It was recommended to take abatement measures against noise sources to attain the noise level 80 dB(A) or less in residential areas. In 1975, the Environmental Agency promulgated environmental quality standards relating to the Shinkansen railway noise with limiting values of 70 dB(A) or less in the residential areas, and 75 dB(A) or less in other areas including commercial and industrial areas. In 1976, recommendations were submitted to the Minister of Transportation which urgently encouraged the implementation of preventive actions against injuries in areas where the calibrated acceleration level of the Shinkansen railway vibration exceeded 70 dB ( = vibration velocity of 0.9 mm/s). However, in the recommendations made to date the combined effects of noise and vibration have not been considered. This investigation was therefore initiated to obtain new environmental quality standards for Japan. In the present health survey, the number of positive responses to the revised CMI was used as an indicator of general health in order to clarify the relationship between noise, vibration and general health. Several studies [6-8] have demonstrated the validity of the CMI as a measure of the presence and degree of emotional ill health, and as an index of general health. It has also been reported that the CMI appears to be of value as an epidemiological tool, and modification of the CMI may further increase its usefulness [9]. We regarded the lowest noise-vibration group (No Vo) as a control group, and analyzed the relationship between the responses to a health survey and corresponding

84

K. YAMANAKA

ET AL.

:nvironmental noise and vibration. The average number of positive responses in the V'oVo group was 28.2, which coincided closely with the value 27.8 obtained for houseJives who lived in less noisy areas in a city near Nagoya, with the same health luestionnaire [10]. With an increase of noise and vibration, the standard deviation of positive responses acreased as did the mean value of positive responses. This suggests that there are ifferences in housewives' susceptibility to noise and vibration, and that the difference .ecomes more pronounced with increased exposure. It was also revealed that there were differences in susceptibility between unhealthy espondents and healthy respondents, and that for the unhealthy groups an increasing Lumber of positive responses was apparent at a lower level of noise and vibration: '0 dB(A) and 0.30 mm/s. The number of positive responses from both groups coincided ~hen exposed to the highest noise-vibration level. Further analysis suggests that eyes and ears, cardiovascular, digestive and nervous ystems are affected by noise. This is not contradictory to findings in previous reports hat cardiovascular, digestive, central nervous and the endocrine systems are affected by ~oise in short term experimental studies [11-13], and that industrial workers exposed o high noise suffer more from cardiovascular, digestive, metabolic, neurological and ~sychiatric difficulties [14-16]. It may be that the high rate of positive responses concernng the respiratory system depends on other factors caused from the bullet train. Eight questions closely related with noise and vibration were concerned with sleep listurbances (3 questions), annoyance (3), fatigue (1) and a strained feeling of the eyes 1). The annoyance question about being "startled by noise" (one of the eight questions), ~roduces a positive response when there is a sudden increase in noise level (i.e., the loise signature as shown in Figure 2 has a sharp rise). These eight questions indicate hat sleep disturbances and annoyance appear to be the main effects of "bullet train" loise and vibration on people. Noise and vibration effects on general health, however, also occur as the number of ~ositive responses to the other 182 questions increases in the high noise-vibration groups. On the basis of the respondents' positive responses as a whole, it is reasonable to ~resume that fatigue due to sleep disturbances is a factor in the complaints concerning :he eyes and ears, and the cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems. In addition to :his, there were complaints concerning moods and feelings: for example, easily upset, ;tartled by noise, and difficulty to think clearly. From the results obtained, it appears that the high rate of positive responses concerning :he musculoskeletal system is dependent on the vibration, because a statistically significant relationship to noise is not shown. Partial correlations between the number of positive responses and noise-vibration are aot high, and the total given indicates that the model is accounting for only about 10% af the variance when individual responses are used. This finding is believed to be attributable to factors such as wide individual differences in susceptibility to noisevibration and to diseases. Several previous studies [17-19] have also showed that the :orrelation between noise level and individual annoyance is lower than that with mean annoyance. Noise-vibration and other background factors do not predict individual positive responses. However, it seems that the number of positive responses is more [requently affected by noise-vibration and health conditions than by other factors. The relationship between the complaints and noise-vibration was analyzed mainly by using the number of positive responses in 190 questions, which consisted of 183 questions in the CMI and an additional seven questions. However, when the CMI scores only, without the additional seven questions, were used the number of positive responses

SHINKANSEN NOISE AND VIBRATION CRITERIA

585

increased in the high noise-vibration groups. This shows that the CMI scores may be an indicator of noise and vibration effects on general ill-health. Unsystematic variation of the number of positive responses with noise or vibration cannot be explained. It may depend upon the differences in noise and vibration transmission into houses, because noise and vibration in the respondents' houses are estimated from the values measured externally. We believe the transmission differences may be greater for vibration, which is more affected than noise by the construction material and the type of house. Therefore, further study is desirable in order to quantify better the transmission of vibration from outside into the houses. The absence of a stepwise increase in positive responses with vibration intensity increase at a noise level of above 75 riB(A) would seem to suggest that the increasing effects of vibration are outweighed by noise at the higher levels, and vice versa. The Shinkansen express train noise has been assessed by using several noise rating scales.It was reported [20] that the bullet train noise should be lower than 70riB(A) according to the Noise Rating Number, lower than 65 dB(A) for suburban residential areas, lower than 70 dB(A) for urban residential areas and lower than 75 dB(A) for urban residential areas with some industry or business according to the ISO Recommendation R-1996 [21], and lower than 70 dB(A) according to the Day-Night Sound Level. For the lower vibration intensities that we have considered the cited noise criterion around 70 clB(A) shows good agreement with the value estimated from the results of unhealthy respondents' responses in this survey. However, when a strong vibration such as 1.00 mm/s is combined with the noise a criterion of lower than 70 dB(A) may be appropriate. There have been few studies of vibration level acceptability in houses. Two experimental studies have revealed that 80 dBVL is experienced as "slightly unpleasant" [22], and that the maximum vibration level which does not affect sleep is 65 clBVL [23]. Further studies are necessary in order to establish a criterion for "bullet train" vibration in residential areas. Unhealthy people may desire more quiet than healthy people, and this survey has shown that unhealthy respondents are sensitive to noise and vibration. It has been questioned [24, 25] whether one should use the total population or a part of the population (e.g., the more sensitive population) to set community exposure criteria. For public health purposes, it is our opinion that the response of the unhealthy (that is, the sensitive population) has to be used in setting residential community criteria so-as not to worsen their health condition. In order to establish appropriate criteria for areas exposed to both noise and vibration, levels of both noise and vibration must be considered, with particular attention to the unhealthy people in residential areas.

REFERENCES 1. K. BRODMAN, A. J. ERDMANN, I. LORGE, H. G. WOLFF and T. H. BROADBENT 1949 Journal of the American Medical Association 140, 530-534. The Cornell medical index, an adjunct to medical interview. 2. K. BRODMAN, A. J. ERDMANN, I. LORGE, H. G. WOLFF and T. H. BROADBENT 1951 Journal of the American Medical Association 145, 152-157. The Cornell medical index-health questionnaire, II. As a diagnostic instrument. 3. K. FUKAMACHI 1959 Fukuoka Acta Medica 50, 2988-3000. The study on the Cornell medical index (1), the characteristic of complaints of neurotic patients showed on the CMI. 4. C. HAYASHI 1952 Annals of Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 3, 69-98. On the prediction of phenomena from qualitative data from the mathematico-statistical point of view.

K. YAMANAKA

86

ET AL.

5. G. W. SNEDECOR and W. G. COCRAN 1974 Statistical Methods. New York: Iowa State University Press. 6. K. BRODMAN, A. J. ERDMANN, I. LORGE, J. DEUTSCHBERGER and H. G. WOLFF 1954 American Journal o[ Psychiatry 111, 37--40. The Cornell medical index-health questionnaire: VII. The prediction of psychosomatic and psychiatric disabilities in army training. 7. J. H. ABRAMSON, L. TERESPOLSKY, J. G. BROOK and S. L. KARK 1965 British Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine 19, 103-110. Cornell medical index as a health measure in epidemiological studies--a test of the validity of a health questionnaire. 8. M. B. DALY and H. A. TYROLER 1972 British Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine 26, 159-164. Cornell medical index response as a predictor of mortality. 9. J. H. ABRAMSON 1966 American Journal of Public Health 19, 287-298. The Cornell medical index as an epidemiological tool. 0. T. MLIRAMATSU 1977 Personal communication. .1. K. D. KRYTER 1970 The Effects of Noise on Man. New York: Academic Press. .2. D. STEPHENS and G. ROOD 1978 in Handbook of Noise Assessment (editor D. N. May). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. The nonauditory effects of noise on health. 3. C. Y. KIM, J. S. RYU and S. S. HONG 1968 Yonsei Medical Journal 9, 149-154. Effects of air-craft noise on gastric function. 4. N. N. SHATALOV and N. A. MUROV 1970 Gig&na Truda i Professionahzye Zabolevaniia 48, 70-73. The influence of intensive noise and neuropsychie tension of the level of the arterial pressure and incidence of hypertensive vascular disease. 5. P. MEINHART aiad U. RENKER 1970 Zeitschrift [fir die Gesamte Hygiene und Ihre Grenz Gebiet 16, 853-857. Untersuchungen zur Morbidt~it an Herz und Kreislauferkrankungen durch Dauerl~irmexposition. 6 . I. D. GRIFFITHS and F. J. LANODON 1968 Jourtla[ of Sound and Vibration 8, 16-32. Subjective response to road traffic noise. .7. F. J. LANGDON 1976 Journal of Sound and Vibration 47, 243-263. Noise nuisance caused by road traffic in residential areas: Part I. .8. F. J. LANODON 1976 Journal of Sound and Vibration 47, 265-282. Noise nuisance caused by road traffic in residential areas: Part II. .9. F. J. LANGDON 1976 Journal of Sound and Vibration 49, 241-256. Noise nuisance caused by road traffic in residential areas: Part III. ).0. T. NIMURA, T. SONE, M. EBATA and H. MATSUMOTO 1975 Noise Control Engineering 5, 5-11. Noise problems with high speed railways in Japan. ).1. ISO RECOMMENDATION R1996 1971 Assessment of Noise with Respect to Community Response. Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization. ).2. Y. YONEKAWA 1977 Industrial Health 15, 23-32. Evaluation of bullet train vibration for residents near railways. ).3. K. YAMAZAKI 1977 Industrial Health 15, 13-21. The effect of whole-body vibration on human performance and physiological functions Part I. Experimental study of the effect of vertical vibration on human sleep. 24. M. E. BRYAN 1973 New Scientist 59, 738-740. Noise laws don't protect the sensitive. )-5. M. E. BRYAN and W. TEMPEST 1973 Applied Acoustics 6, 219-232. A r e our noise laws adequate? APPENDIX: HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE If y o u can a n s w e r Y E S to t h e q u e s t i o n a s k e d , p u t a circle a r o u n d t h e Yes. If y o u h a v e to a n s w e r N O to t h e q u e s t i o n a s k e d , p u t a circle ~Tound tile No. A n s w e r all q u e s t i o n s . [f y o u a r e n o t sure, guess. At 1 2 3 4 5 :~ 6 ~: 7

D o you need glasses to read? Do you need glasses to see things at a distance? Has your eyesight often blacked out completely? D o your eyes continually blink or water? D o you often have bad pains in your eyes? Has your eyesight often been blurred? Do you often feel strain in your eyes?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No

SHINKANSEN NOISE AND VIBRATION CRITERIA

587

8 9 10 11 :~ 12

Are your eyes.often red or inflamed? Are you hard of hearing? Have you ever had a bad running ear? Do you have constant noises in your ears? Are your ears often clogged?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No

13 :~ 14 :~ 15 :~ 16 17 18 19 ~: 20 :~ 21 22 23 :~ 24 ~: 25 26 27 :~28 29 30 31

Do you have to clear your throat frequently? Do you often feel a choking lump in your throat? Are you often troubled with bad spells of sneezing? Is your nose continually stuffed up? Do you suffer from a constantly running nose? Is your nose often dried? Have you at times had bad nose bleeds? Are you troubled by constant sputum? Are you troubled by constant coughing? Do you frequently suffer from sore throat? Do you often catch colds? When you catch a cold, do you always have to go to bed? Do you frequently suffer from heavy chest colds? Do you suffer from asthma? Do you have a slight fever? Do you sometimes have severe soaking sweats at night? Have you ever coughed up blood? Have you ever had tuberculosis? Have you ever had a chronic chest condition except tuberculosis?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No

No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 :~ 40 41 :~ 42 43 44 45 46

Has a doctor ever said your blood pressure was too high? Has a doctor ever said your blood pressure was too low? Do you have pains in the heart or chest? Do you often feel like you have a vice around the chest? Do you often have a sense of pressure on the chest? Does your heart often race like mad? Do you have a skipped heart beat at times? Do you often have difficulty in breathing? Do you get out of breath long before anyone else? Are your ankles often badly swollen? Do cold hands or feet trouble you even in hot weather? Have you ever had purple in your hands or feet? Do you suffer from frequent cramps in your legs? Has a doctor ever said you had heart trouble? Does heart trouble run in your family?

Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No No No No No No No No

47 48 49 50 51 :l: 52 :~ 53 54 55 ~: 56 57 58 59 60 61 62

Have you lost more than half your teeth? Are you troubled by bleeding gums? Have you often had severe toothaches? Is your tongue usually badly coated? Do you always gulp your food in a hurry? Do you often suffer from an upset stomach? Do you often have nausea or vomiting? Do you usually feel bloated after eating? Do you usually belch a lot after eating? Do you usually feel substernal burning or taste sour? Do you suffer from constant stomach trouble? Is your appetite always poor? Do you suffer from stomach pains after or before meals? Do severe pains in the stomach often double you up? Has a doctor ever said you had stomach ulcer? Does stomach trouble run in your family?

No No No No

B

C

D Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No

K. Y A M A N A K A H T A L .

588 63 64 65 66 67 68

Do you suffer from frequent loose bowel movement? Have you ever had severe bloody diarrhea? Do you constantly suffer from bad constipation? Have you ever had rectal hemorrhoids? Have you ever had jaundice? Have you ever had serious liver or gall bladder trouble?

Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No

69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77

Are your joints often painfully swollen? Do your muscles or joints constantly feel stiff? Do you usually have severe pains in the arms or legs? Are you crippled with severe rheumatism (arthritis)? Does rheumatism (arthritis) run in your family? Do you often feel dullness in your legs? Do you often feel dullness in your arms? Dopainsintheback makeit hard for you tokeepupwithyour work? Are you troubled with a serious bodily disability or deformity?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No No

78 79 :~ 80 81 82 83 84 85

Is your skin very sensitive or tender? Do you have ecchymosis on the skin at times? Do cuts in your skin usually stay open a long time? Does your face often get badly flushed? Do you sweat a great deal even in cold weather? Are you often bothered by severe itching? Does your skin often break out in a rash? Are you often troubled with boils?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No

86 :~ 87 88 89 ~+90 :~ 91 ~: 92 :~ 93 94 95 96 97 r 98 99 100 101 102 103

Do you suffer badly from frequent severe headaches? Do you often have heavy feeling in the head? Are headaches common in your family? Do you have frequent stiffness in the shoulder? Do you have hot or cold spells? Do you often have dizziness? Do you often have dizziness just after standing? Do you frequently feel faint? Have you fainted in your life? Doyouhave constant numbness or tinglinginanypart of your body? Was any part of your body ever paralyzed? Have you at times had twitching of the face, head or shoulders? Do you often have trembling of hands or feet? Did you ever have a fit or convulsion (epilepsy)? Has anyone in your family ever had fits or convulsions (epilepsy)? Do you bite your nails badly? Are you troubled by stuttering or stammering? Are you a sleep walker?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No

Have you ever passed blood while urinating? Do you have trouble starting your stream when urinating? Have your menstrual periods usually been painful? Have your menses often been irregular? Have you often felt weak or sick with your periods? Have you often had to lie down when your periods come on? Have you ever had vaginal bleeding except during your periods? Have you ever had constant severe hot flushes and sweats with your periods? 112 Have you often been nervous during your periods? 113 Have you often been troubled with a vaginal discharge?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No No

Yes Yes

No " No

E No

F No No No No No No No

G

H 104 105 ~t 106 107 108 109 110 111

589

SHINKANSEN NOISE AND VIBRATION CRITERIA

114 115 116 117 :i: 118 119

Do you have to get up every night and urinate? During the day, do you usually have to urinate frequently? Do you often have severe burning pain when you urinate? Do you often have discomfort when you urinate? Do you sometimes lose control of your bladder? Has a doctor ever said you had kidney or bladder disease?

Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No

120 121 122 :!: 123 124 125 126 127

Do you often get spells of complete exhaustion or fatigue? Are you usually exhausted in summer? Does working tire you out completely? D o you usually get up tired and exhausted in the morning? Does every little effort wear you out? A r e you constantly too tired and exhausted even to eat? Do you suffer from severe nervous exhaustion? Does nervous exhaustion run in your family?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No

128 129 130 131 132 133 134

Are you frequently ill? Are you frequently confined to bed by illness? Are you always in poor health? A r e you considered a sickly person? Do you come from a sickly family? Do you wear yourself out worrying about your health? Is your health often affected by weather change?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No

No No No No No No

135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147

Were you ever treated for anaemia? Do you have diabetes? Did a doctor ever say you had a goitre? Did a doctor ever treat you for a tumour or cancer? Do you suffer from any chronic disease? Are you definitely under weight? Are you definitely over weight? Did a doctor ever say you had varicose veins in your legs? Did you ever have a serious operation? Did you ever have a serious injury? Do y o ~ o f t e n have small accidents or injury? Do you often have allergic reaction? Do you often have a motion sickness?

Yes Yes Yas Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No No No No No No No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes

No

Yes

No

No No No No No No No

K

L

* 148 Do you usually have difficulty in falling asleep? ~: 149 ~: 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157

A r e you easily awakened from sleep? Do you often yawn? Do you often feel drowsy? Do you often dream? Do you find it impossible to take a regular rest period each day? Do you find it impossible to take regular exercise? Do you smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day? D o you drink more than six cups of coffee or tea a day? D o you usually take two or more alcoholic drinks a day?

No No No No No No No No No

M 158 Do you sweat or tremble alot duringexamination or questioning? 159 Do you get nervous and shaky when approached by a superior? 160 Does your work fall to pieces when the boss or a superior is watching you? ~: 161 Does your thinking get completely mixed up when you have to do things quickly?

No No

590

K. YAMANAKA U T A L .

162 Must you do things very slowly in order to do them without mistakes? 163 Do you always get directions and orders wrong? 164 Do strange people or places make you afraid? 165 Are you scared to be alone when there are no friends near you? 166 A r e you considered an indecisive person? 167 D o you wish you always had someone at your side to advise you? 168 Are you considered a clumsy person? 169 Does it bother you to eat anywhere except in your own home?

Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No

D o you feel alone and sad at a party? D o you often cry? Does life look entirely hopeless? Do you often wish you were dead and away from it all?

Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No

174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182

Does worrying continually get you down? Does worrying run in your family? Does every little thing get on your nerves and wear you out? Are you considered a nervous person? Does nervousness run in your family? Did you ever have a nervous breakdown? Did anyone in your family ever have a nervous breakdown? Were you ever a patient in a mental hospital (for your nerves)? Was anyone in your family ever a patient in a mental hospital?

Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No No

183 184 185 186 187

A r e you extremely shy or sensitive? Is anyone in your family extremely shy or sensitive? Are your feelings easily hurt? Does criticism always upset you? A r e you considered a touchy person?

Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No

188 189 ~: 190 191 192

Do you have to be on your guard even with friends? Do you always do things on sudden impulse? Are you easily upset or irritated? Do you easily lose control? D o you easily get angry?

Yes

No

Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No

193 ~: 194 ~: 195 196 ~: 197 198 199 ~: 200 201

D o you often shake or tremble? A r e you constantly keyed up and jittery? D o sudden noises make you jump or jittery? D o you tremble or feel weak whenever someone shouts at you? D o you become seared at sudden movements or noises at night? A r e you often awake ned out of your sleep by frightening dreams? D o frightening thoughts keep coming back in your mind? D o you often become suddenly scared for no good reason? D o you often break out in a cold sweat?

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No No No

:~ 202 203 r 204 205 206 { 207 208

Do Do Do Do Do Do Do

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No No No

No No No No No No

N 170 171 172 + 173 O

P

Q

R

you you you you you you you

often often often often often often often

find it difficult to memorize? feel your head muddled? find it difficult to think clearly? forget things? make mistakes? find it difficult in concentration? weary of your study or work?

SHINKANSEN NOISE AND VIBRATION CRITERIA "~ The revised CMI A. Eyes and ears B. Respiratory system C. Cardiovascular system D. Digestive system E. Musculoskeletal system F. Skin G. Nervous system H. Urogenital system I. Fatigue J. Frequency of illness

K. Miscellaneous diseases L. Habits M. Feelings of inadequacy N. Depression O. Anxiety P. Sensitivity Q. Anger R. Tension A n d additional questions S. Concentration disturbances

:I:The questions related to both noise level and vibration intensity. The questionnaire was written in Japanese.

591