Biological Science at RTRI
-Retrospective and Perspective-

Abstract

The Environmental Engineering division, RTRI is responsible for the estimation and evaluation of environmental safety of newly developed systems such as Magnetically Levitated Trains (MAGLEV). Not only the well-known "traditional" environmental effects of railroad systems such as noise and vibration, possible adverse effects on human health are also studied. Among them, the cancer-causing activity of electromagnetic fields used to lift and propel MAGLEV trains has most intensively been studied. Efforts are also made to eliminate the negative legacy left by past technology. This includes the biological degradation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). In this paper, I review the biological studies that have been performed and are being performed at RTRI.