Is the time change getting to you? No wonder, scientists say it is harmful to health. And expensive

On the night of October 28-29, summer changed to winter and we turned our clocks back an hour. Prof. Irena Iskra-Golec recalls various definitions of the concept of time on the university’s website. He emphasizes that biological time, not official time, is the most important for the functioning of the human body.

The time change disrupts the biological clock

The biological clock – developed in the process of evolution – regulates the circadian, rhythmic variability of the intensity of all life processes of living organisms (including humans), from gene expression to the most complex behaviors.

The biological clock is set (synchronized) by sunlight (light-dark cycle), i.e. solar time. The natural light-dark cycle, determined by the rotation of the Earth around its axis resulting in the cyclicity of day and night, sets the human biological clock

– explains the psychologist.

Solar time (so-called natural time) is determined relative to . “We do not always fully realize that solar time differs even between relatively close places on Earth. For example, in Poland the maximum difference in solar time is about 40 minutes and occurs between the westernmost Osinów Dolny in the Oder bend (west of Cedynia) , and the easternmost place in Zosina, in the bend of the Bug (east of Hrubieszów). The sun rises and sets about Zosina about 40 minutes earlier than over Osinów,” the professor gives examples.

He adds that due to the diversity of solar time depending on geographical location, it is necessary to unify the current time territorially. This is the official time, also called clock time or conventional time. In Poland, it is defined by the previously mentioned act, which recognizes the time officially adopted in Poland as Central European Time (CSE), i.e. the time of the meridian located 15 degrees east of Greenwich. Today, winter time is considered more natural because it was in force before summer time was introduced.

Changing the time is unhealthy

According to prof. Irena Iskra-Golec, changing clocks twice a year causes many unfavorable consequences resulting from the disruption of the relationship between solar, clock and biological time of humans. These changes, especially during the transition from winter to summer time, increase the difference between what a person has to do due to official time (e.g. go to work one hour earlier in the morning) and what he is able to do due to his biological time (e.g. wake up an hour earlier in the morning).

Before the biological clock adapts to the new time, which usually takes up to a week for most people, there are many unfavorable consequences for the broadly understood human well-being.

– says the professor.

It has been shown that the difference between official and biological time (especially shifting wake-up times to earlier) is associated in the long run with deterioration of health, reduced life expectancy, reduced efficiency at work, including reduced academic achievements, and contributes to disorders that the cost to society is estimated at 2%. gross domestic product.

In 2018, during open public consultations in EU member states, 84 percent respondents were against changing the time. As a result, a draft directive on opting out of time changes in EU countries was prepared. It is still being processed in.

– Standardization of time in member states will bring many benefits – explains Prof. Irena Iskra-Golec, psychologist from the Faculty of Psychology and Law in Poznań. She points out that the time change, once introduced for cost-saving reasons, not only did not lead to the expected effect, but also caused many unfavorable health effects.

The official position of chronobiology experts recommends that each country adopt a permanent standard official time that is as close as possible to local solar time. Therefore, the directive abolishing time change in EU countries not only expresses subjective opinions, but also has scientific justification

– says the psychologist.

The time change on the last Sunday in October takes place in accordance with the regulation of the Prime Minister issued for the years 2022-2026.

The summer time in force in Poland until October 29 corresponds to Eastern European time (UTC+2). The winter time we will soon switch to is in line with the Central European Time Zone (UTC+1).

(kol/ zan/)