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Daylight Saving Time Transitions: Impact on Total Mortality

Author

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  • Michael Poteser

    (Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Hanns Moshammer

    (Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Nukus Branch of Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute, Department of Hygiene, Nukus 230100, Uzbekistan)

Abstract

In Europe and many countries worldwide, a half-yearly changing time scheme has been adopted with the aim of optimizing the use of natural daylight during working hours and saving energy. Because the expected net economic benefit was not achieved, the discussion about the optimal solution has been reopened with a shifted focus on social and health related consequences. We set out to produce evidence for this discussion and analysed the impact of daylight saving time on total mortality of a general population in a time series study on daily total mortality for the years 1970–2018 in the city of Vienna, Austria. Daily deaths were modelled by Poisson regression controlling for seasonal and long-term trend, same-day and 14-day average temperature, humidity, and day of week. During the week after the spring transition a significant increase in daily total mortality of about 3% per day was observed. This was not the case during the week after the fall transition. The increase in daily mortality as observed in the week after spring DST-transition is most likely causally linked to the change in time scheme.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Poteser & Hanns Moshammer, 2020. "Daylight Saving Time Transitions: Impact on Total Mortality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-5, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:5:p:1611-:d:327451
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:aen:journl:ej39-2-irsova is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Giuntella, Osea & Mazzonna, Fabrizio, 2019. "Sunset time and the economic effects of social jetlag: evidence from US time zone borders," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 210-226.
    3. Lisbeth Weitensfelder & Hanns Moshammer, 2019. "Evidence of Adaptation to Increasing Temperatures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Kellogg, Ryan & Wolff, Hendrik, 2008. "Daylight time and energy: Evidence from an Australian experiment," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 56(3), pages 207-220, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hanns Moshammer & Michael Poteser & Michael Kundi & Kathrin Lemmerer & Lisbeth Weitensfelder & Peter Wallner & Hans-Peter Hutter, 2020. "Nitrogen-Dioxide Remains a Valid Air Quality Indicator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Laurent Lévy & Jean-Marie Robine & Grégoire Rey & Raúl Fernando Méndez Turrubiates & Marcos Quijal-Zamorano & Hicham Achebak & Joan Ballester & Xavier Rodó & François R. Herrmann, 2022. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Daylight saving time affects European mortality patterns," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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