Health Impact of the Public Transport System

Health Impact of the Public Transportation

TLMT 311 Introduction to Transportation Management, Summer

American Public University

Instructor Tommy Rect

Health Impact of the Public Transport System.

There are various modes of public transport across the world; ranging from trains and buses to airlines and ships. Millions of people use public transportation systems on a daily basis. As such, it exposes people to numerous infections from other passengers. This is because there are many air borne infections that can infect individuals as a result of constant exposure in the environment. A survey that was conducted at various bus terminals, railway stations and airports shows that even though screening is done to the passengers, it is mainly for material objects (Cahill, 2010). The health conditions of the passengers are ignored and this creates a possibility for ill patients to carry these infections on board. Some of the infections that can be transmitted in this way are common cold, pulmonary tuberculosis and swine flu. In most Asian countries, it is common for people to walk around with masks covering their mouths and nostrils, particularly when using public transport systems (Drexler, 2012). It shows that majority of the population understands the risk that was posed to their health when they boarded public modes of transport.

Based on this, it is evident that in any given day, users of public transport are exposed to these life-endangering ailments without their knowledge.  According to some researchers, transmission originates mainly from the atmosphere in general (Gulli, 2012). However, public transport provides a high concentration for the bacteria and this increases the influx of infection rates. This affects the health of the passengers and the people that they will get in contact with later in the day. The hypothesis that should be tested in this paper is, therefore, does using public transport have a negative impact on the health of users in the long run?

References

Cahill, M. (2010). Transport, environment and society. Maidenhead, U.K.: Open University

Press.

Drexler, M. (2002). Secret agents: the menace of emerging infections. Washington, D.C.:

Joseph Henry Press.

Gulli, B. (2012). Bloodborne and airborne pathogens (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones &

Bartlett Learning.