Abstract
Relationship between subjective ratings of health state and railway noise were investigated at fifteen sites in Tokyo. The inquiry was conducted for married women and 830 data were available for analyses. Relationships between subjective ratings of health state and answers to each question on objective disturbance were also ascertained in relation to noise levels. In the results, it was found that subjective ratings of health state were closely correlated to age and noise levels. Greater age and higher noise levels increased ill-health. Annoyance indicated no relation to subjective ratings of health state, whereas sleep disturbance, mental disturbance or physical symptoms indicated close relation to subjective ratings of health state. Noise higher than 70 dB (A) accelerated increase of ill-health. Noise higher than 60 dB (A) indicated increase of highly disturbed respondents to sleep disturbance, mental disturbance and physical symptoms. These results suggested that noise could cause ill-health in the meaning of subjective ratings of health state.
