著者

Ryohei YAMASHITA Taichi IGARASHI

出版者

Center for Environmental Information Science

雑誌

Journal of Environmental Information Science (ISSN:03896633)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.2022, no.1, pp.48-55, 2022-10-26 (Released:2022-10-26)

参考文献数

14

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The hypothesis of the beneficial effects of agricultural activities on the maintenance of positive health conditions has been empirically tested using several data sets. However, the association between good health and agricultural activities has not been examined across a wide geographical area, and no convincing census has yet been obtained. This study used big data to test the hypothesis. Medical receipt data, which represent a form of big anonymous data, were used as objective indicators of health conditions. The extent of agricultural activities conducted in particular regions was estimated from the census of agriculture and forestry, and comparisons were then affected by the health conditions of the specified areas. The use of medical receipt data is restricted because such data can directly indicate the health conditions of individual residents. This study set the unit of analysis as multiple neighboring cities and towns to avoid constraints on data use. The analysis results revealed that the reduction of agricultural activity paralleled the deterioration of health conditions in some regions. However, the study did not confirm the overall apparent effects of agricultural activity on the amelioration or deterioration of health conditions. More determinate knowledge may be attained by separately reviewing the data on agricultural activities and health and by extending the period of data collection.