Book of Abstractsöelämäosaaminen.fi/aineisto/Book of Abstracts_ICCEF 2002.… · Publishing Office S. Siuro, Tampere, Finland . Book of Abstracts: ICCEF 2002 ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Book of Abstracts: ICCEF 2002

ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Book of Abstracts

Edited by

Olavi Manninen

"Think globally and act locally for total environment in Takatsuki"

Tenth International ICCEF Conference on The Combined Actions and Combined Effects

of Environmental Factors is held in Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan, at the Citizen Hall

(Takatsuki Gendai Gekijo), on 28-31 August 2002, under the auspices of The International

Society for Complex Environmental Studies (ISCES) in cooperation with many

internationally honored experts, Japanese companies and organizations representing

different fields and activities. The practical arrangements are taking care of Department

of Hygiene and Public Health Osaka Medical College, Japan.

This Book of Abstracts consists of 37 reviewed, accepted, and edited abstracts involving

presentations at the conference and being published in the international periodical

Archives of Complex Environmental Studies ACES 14(3-4)2002 (CDROM).

_______________________________________________

Publishing Office S. Siuro, Tampere, Finland


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

PREFACE

On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 10th International Conference on the

Combined Effects of Environmental Factors, I would like to express to delegates my hearty

welcome to Takatsuki, cultural city with clean water and rich greenery.

We are pleased to have the opportunity, during the conference to exchange scientific

thought and experiences with our colleagues and to review recent developments in

researches on the combined effects of environmental factors. Progress in this area of science

has been achieved through contributions from many scientific disciplines; from chemistry,

biochemistry and physiology to public health and ecology. Demands for knowledge in this

area are increasing in the work places as a result of new health issues related to new type of

chemicals and work conditions. Researches, through such interdisciplinary approaches,

are thus poised to make significant advances in the future. International co-operation in this

field is of the essence. There is no doubt that increased knowledge of the functional effects of

complex environmental factors on human health can help provide a clearer understanding

of their roles more broadly, in the environment as a whole.

The 10th International Conference on the Combined Effects of Environmental Factors

(ICCEF 2002) was organized under the auspices of the International Society of

Complex Environmental Studies (ISCES). The Conference was cooperated with the

Nakayama International Center for Medical Co-operation, and supported by WHO Kobe

Centre, Osaka Medical Association and the City of Takatsuki. I wish to thank them all for

their logical support, and also to express my gratitude to Osaka Pharmaceutical

Manufacturers Association and that of Tokyo, and other corporations for their financial

support.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Olavi Manninen, the

President of ISCES, and Professors Guifan Sun and Ming-Ho Yu, International advisors

ICCEF2002, for their efforts, kind help and encouragement to us in organizing ICCEF 2002 in

Takatsuki. I also wish to express my cordial thanks to all the members of the organizing

committee for their great efforts.

Koichi Kono

Chairman of ICCEF 2002

Professor, Department of Hygiene and Public Health

Director, Nakayama International Center for Medical Coorporation

Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Officers of ICCEF 2002 Conference

Conference President

Olavi Manninen

(Prof. of Institute for High Ability of Work Organizations, Business Research Centre,

University of Tampere, Finland)

Conference Chairman

Koichi Kono

(Prof. of Department of Hygiene and Public Health Osaka Medical College, Japan)

Co - Chairman

Masayuki Iki (Prof. of Department of Public Health, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Japan)

Honorary Chairman of the Conference

Tadahiro Tanaka (Chairman of Board of Directors, Osaka Medical College, Japan)

Honorary Advisory Members

Yuji Kawaguchi (Director of WHO Kobe Centre, Japan)

Masahisa Shirnada (President. of Osaka. Medical College, Japan)

Taro Nakayama (Member of House of Representatives, Former Foreign Minister, Japan)

Soichi Nishimura (Chairman of Board of Directors, Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan)

Haruo Uematsu (President of Osaka Medical Association, Japan)

Tsutomu Okumoto (Mayor of the City of Takatsuki, Japan)

International Advisory Members

Guifan Sun (Director of School of Public Health, China Medical University, China)

Ming -- Ho Yu

(Prof. Emeritus at Huxley College of Environmental Studies, Western Washington University, USA)

Organizing Committee

Masahiko Chikuma

(Prof. of Department of Analytical Chemistry, Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan)

Masashi Shimahara (Prof. of Department of Oral Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Japan)

Toshiro Maruyama (Former Director of Takatsuki Medical Association, Japan)

Yasuyuki Kuratani (Chief of Environment Office, Department of Environment, Takatsuki City, Japan)

Secretary General

Takemasa Watanabe

(Assoc. Prof. of Department of Hygiene and Public Health Osaka Medical College, Japan)


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS OF AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORT WORKERS AT CALCUTTA DUE TO COMBINED EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Chowdhury AR, Gangopadhyay PK, Mukherjee AK, Pradhan CK,

Chattopadhyay BP

Regional Occupational Health Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research),

Salt Lake City, Calcutta, India

The public transport workers of Calcutta including drivers, conductors,

mechanics are generally exposed to diesel exhaust in the form of diesel

particulate matter (DPM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) i.e. benzene,

toluene, p-xylene, CO, NOx, SO2 along with heat, humidity and noise both

inside or outside the garage at work. The objective of this study is to assess

the environmental factors at transport depot and its impact on health of

automobile workers. The exposure of VOCs like benzene (drivers - 527.29

g/m3, conductors - 154.23 g/m3), toluene (drivers - 472.8 g/m3, conductors

- not detected) and p-xylene (drivers - 402.8 g/m3, conductors - 285.7 g/m3)

were much more in the case of drivers than conductors. Maximum noise (90

dB (A)-impulsive) and generator room (107.4 dB (A)) was recorded.

Numerous automobile workers are suffering from hearing problem (8.63 %).

Exposure to higher noise level may be the causative factor considering the

hearing loss which was supported by the audiometric analysis. Higher blood

pressure in the case of conductors (21.0 %) compared to drivers (10.8 %) and

mechanics (11.4 %) was also recorded and this may be due to their nature of

job at work. The effect of dust and VOCs in the garage condition may be

responsible for the PFT change. Pain and discomfort (71.42 %) in various

musculoskeletal functions were reported by the drivers. Therefore, physical

and chemical factors in the garage environment are responsible for the

health hazards of automobile transport workers.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

COMBINED EFFECTS OF OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS: THE IMPACT OF COMBINED STRESSORS ON WORK PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH

McNamara RL, Wellens BT, Smith AP

Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, School of Psychology,

Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK

There exists a significant body of evidence regarding the effects of

occupational hazards. These effects are often considered in isolation, yet a

significant proportion of the workforce is exposed to several hazards at a

time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined impact of

workplace factors on mood, cognitive performance and physiology.

Participants completed a battery of objective measures before and after

work, as previous research has shown the difference between before and

after work measures to be a good indicator of workload demands during the

day. The test battery was performed on the first and last days of the working

week. Subjective information regarding chronic and acute (i.e. daily)

exposure to hazards was also collected. Mean composite 'total negative

factors' scores were created for exposure to chronic and acute stressors (e.g.

noise, exposure to hazardous substances, job demand): median splits of

these variables were then entered into a series of ANOVA where mood,

simple reaction time and physiology served as dependent measures.

Findings indicate that chronic exposure to negative factors results in

increased susceptibility to fatigue, over the course of the testing session,

working day and working week.

COMBINED EFFECTS OF SHIFT WORK AND OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE ON PERFORMANCE TASKS IN A SEAFARING POPULATION

Wellens BT, McNamara RL, Ellis N, Smith AP



This study was undertaken to compliment a cross-sectional survey of the

combined effects of self-reported workplace stressors.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Data were collected from seafarers on board support vessels for the North

Sea oilrigs as part of a project on offshore fatigue. These data could also be

used specifically to address whether there were any cognitive effects

associated with working in loud noise at night that were different to

working in loud noise during the day, low noise at night or low noise during

the day. The participants were 62 male workers from 3 different vessels.

Their mean age was 40.3 years. Individuals were from a range of different

jobs onboard the vessels. There were two between-subjects factors

(day/night shift and noise exposure) and one within-subjects factor (test

session). Workers were asked to complete a battery of computer tests both

before (Pre-shift) and after (Post-shift) their shift on one day. Four tests were

presented using laptop computers. These tests were visual analogue mood

scales, a simple variable fore-period reaction time, and categoric search and

focused attention choice reaction time tasks. The mood scales were

presented at the beginning and end of the testing session. Occupational

noise exposure (Leq) was measured over a two-day period using a dosimeter.

Workers were categorized into day/night workers by their shift

pattern. Regression analyses distinguishing noise exposure, day/night shift

and their interaction were performed on the data from each test session and

the change score between the start and end of the shift. Noise exposure was

associated with a more positive mood but also with slower reaction times.

Those working night shifts showed a large drop in alertness over the course

of work and became slower at tasks requiring more difficult responses.

There were also a limited number of interactions between noise and shift,

such as more lapses of attention (very long response times) but fewer

incorrect responses in the noise/nightwork condition. The findings suggest

that these techniques may provide valuable information about the possible

combined effects of occupational stressors in situ. The present analyses are

based only on a small number of night workers and further consideration of

effects of potential confounding influences must also be undertaken.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

ADAPTATION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH A HEIGHTENED STATE OF REACTIVITY TO COMBINED ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Fox R1, Joffres M1,2, Srinivas T1, Lawrence D1

1Nova Scotia Environmental Health Center, Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada 2Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie

University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is defined by heightened reactivity to

the environment and low levels of chemicals are thought to trigger

symptoms. Review of 100 patients who fulfilled MCS criteria reported

increased sense of smell (88 %), light sensitivity (74 %), and sound sensitivity

(74 %). The majority of patients demonstrate the characteristics of a Highly

Sensitive Personality and these findings are consistent with the hypothesis

that vulnerability to the environment is linked to this character trait. The

Highly Sensitive Personality appears to be a marker of high sensory

processing sensitivity in the nervous system. Very high levels of arousal are

disorganizing and may be linked to the symptoms that are experienced by

the patient with MCS. These observations were of great importance in

designing a study to investigate the impact of exposure to environmental

chemicals. The first step was to determine if patients with MCS could adapt

to the experimental environment. A Challenge Booth, made from inert

materials with no apparent odors, was constructed at the Nova Scotia

Environmental Health Centre, Canada, allowing introduction of materials

that release various chemicals into the environment. The ability to adapt or

habituate was determined by the patient's ability to achieve a stable baseline.

Subjects (MCS n=12, Controls n=7) were given time to be able to remain calm

and non-reactive to changes in exhaust fan, opening of cabinet door to allow

introduction of material, or wearing measuring equipment. The habituation

of each subject was determined by the constancy or stabilization of the

subject's physiological readings, skin conductance, skin temperature,

respiratory rate, surface EMG and heart rate, and from the selfreported

symptoms.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Eighty six per cent of controls (6) habituated in a single session while in the

MCS group, 25 % (3) required 4 sessions and 50 % (6) required 2 sessions to

habituate. Seventeen per cent (2) in the MCS group did not habituate to

baseline protocols within six sessions. Test re-test protocols showed that

while controls adapted to various stimuli or changing environmental

conditions, individuals with MCS did not. It is concluded that investigation

of individuals with MCS in an experimental environment requires a

habituation period to obtain meaningful data. It is postulated that this

difficulty in adapting to changing environmental conditions is linked to the

altered sensitivity we report in these patients with MCS and the high

sensory-processing sensitivity.

ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC CHANGES OF LOW BACK MUSCLE IN SUBJECTS WITH MANUAL HANDLING TASKS DURING DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS

Inoue M, Harada N

Department of Hygiene, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine,

Minamikogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi, Japan

To examine the effect of environmental temperature on the low back

conditions, changes in surface electromyographic data derived from the low

back muscles in healthy subjects with physically demanding jobs were

examined. The tasks were performed using three different weight materials

(5, 10, 20kg) during the different environmental temperature (5, 20, 35⁰C)

conditions. Median frequencies during the tasks significantly decreased

from 41.1±4.5 (mean±SD) to 36.1±5.0 Hz (p<0.01) with 20kg during 5⁰C

condition at the L2 right, and from 38.6±6.0 to 36.6±5.7 Hz (p<0.01) with 5 kg

during 35⁰C condition at the L2 left. It is suggested that environmental

temperature may influence the low back muscle condition during manual

handling tasks and that cold environment may induce muscle fatigue of

workers lifting heavy materials.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

EXPOSURE TO COMBINATIONS OF WORKPLACE STRESSORS AND INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF WORK-RELATED INJURIES

Wellens BT, Smith AP



Consideration of factors associated with increased accident likelihood has

tended to concentrate on the influence of one specific factor (for example,

noise) and other influences are either not considered or are controlled for.

The aim here was to examine the influence of combinations of stressors on

the prevalence of workplace accidents using self-report measures of

exposure, health and work outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were

carried out, with "work-related/nonwork-related accident" as the dependent

variable. The main predictor was combinations of physical agents (noise,

fumes, hazardous substances) and temporal stressors (night and shift work,

long working hours). Additional predictors - the job demand-control-

support model and home-work interface (HWI) were also investigated.

Other measured predictors (i.e., age, sex and social class based on

occupation) were included in all analyses. There was some evidence for an

increased likelihood of work related accidents in those exposed to

combinations of stressors increased likelihood was largely due to

independent effects of stressors, particularly noise. Certain stressors were

also associated with a decreased risk of having a work-related accident (i.e.

unpredictable work hours). Job-demand-control-support did not have a

major impact on predicting work-/nonwork-related accident

likelihood. Prevalence of accidents at work largely reflected social class

based on occupation 'skilled manual workers' or 'partly skilled workers'

were most likely to have an accident. A much larger dataset is being

collected so (1) analyses may be stratified by occupation and (2) to increase

the number of individuals exposed to specific combinations of stressors.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF FATIGUE INDICATORS ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE OFFSHORE OIL INDUSTRY

McNamara RL, Smith AP

The Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, School of Psychology,


Offshore workers are exposed to a unique combination of factors that may

impact negatively on well-being. This paper describes results from a survey

of fatigue, health and injury amongst seafarers and installation personnel

working in the UK sector of the offshore oil industry. Potential stressors and

fatigue-related variables (e.g. noise, working hours, shift type) were

considered in terms of their combined effects on subjective outcome

measures. Median splits of these variables were summed to create a 'total

fatigue indicators' score. A quartile split of this variable was entered into a

series of ANCOVA, co-varying for age, education and socio-economic status

(SES) and stratifying for occupational group (i.e. seafarers or installation

personnel). Total fatigue indicators demonstrated a linear effect on

depression, cognitive failures, social functioning, lack of/poor quality sleep,

fatigue, and the home-work interface. Effects were more pronounced

amongst installation personnel than seafarers. This is possibly due to

fundamental differences in shift systems between the two groups of offshore

workers, as discussed. No significant effects were observed for injury

frequency, prescribed medication or smoking and alcohol consumption.

Results suggest that exposure to a combination of stressors has a significantly

greater negative effect on health than any of these factors in isolation.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

THE INTEGRATION OF COMPUTER MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL TOXICOLOGY FOR THE STUDY OF CHEMICAL MIXTURES AND MULTIPLE STRESSORS

Yang RSH, Liao KH, Reisfeld B

Quantitative and Computational Toxicology Group, Center for

Environmental Toxicology and Technology, Colorado State University,

Foothills Campus, Fort Collins, USA

Human exposure to chemicals is rarely, if ever, confined to a single

compound. Therefore, the study of chemical mixture toxicology has gained a

great deal of momentum in recent years. Since the Persian Gulf War in 1991

and the ensuing Gulf War Syndrome in about 10 % of the Gulf War veterans

in the U.S., there has been a heightened awareness that "Multiple Stressors",

not chemical alone, are responsible for adverse health effects. Considering

chemicals and chemical mixtures alone is already an extremely complex

issue because of the astronomical number of possible chemical

mixtures. How are we able to face the infinite combinations of "Multiple

Stressors" which may include chemical, physical, biological agents, as well

as nutritional, environmental and psychological factors? Such immense

complexities certainly preclude any systematic experimental assessment of

toxicology of all potentially troublesome multiple stressors. However, if we

were to concentrate on the biological processes affected by the multiple

stressors, we would then be dealing with a "finite system" and the potential

for success would be much greater. Thus, we believe that the utilization of

computer modeling and focused mechanistic studies may be the only

promising approach to dealing with this problem, and to offer a ray of hope

for developing a predictive tool. In the past 15 years or so, physiologically

based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) modeling has been

applied to the toxicologic interactions of chemical mixtures. This approach

is promising for relatively simple chemical mixtures. Unfortunately, there

have been few attempts to develop paradigms to consider the risks posed by

very complex chemical mixtures and very complex systems.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Recent collaboration between our laboratory at Colorado State University

and engineers at Rutgers University attempting to apply "Reaction Network

Modeling" to biomedical research has created a possible development of a

modeling approach with the potential of simulating the behavior of complex

biological systems. Once "Virtual Cells", "Virtual Organs", and "Virtual

Humans" becomes a reality, predicting the outcome of toxicological

consequences of complex chemical mixtures and multiple stressors may

merely be considered as perturbations of the normal cells, normal organs

and average humans.

COMBINED EFFECT OF VIBRATION, NOISE AND COLD EXPOSURE ON PATHOGENESIS OF HAND-ARM VIBRATION SYNDROME

Harada N1, Iwamoto M2, Yoneda J2, Nakamoto M1, Inoue M1, Fujimura T1,

Morita H1, Inagaki J1, Suizu K1

1Department of Hygiene, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube,

Japan 2Faculty of Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube,

Japan

Combined effect of vibration, noise and cold exposure, especially autonomic

nervous effect, on pathogenesis of the hand-arm vibration syndrome is

discussed. Acute exposure experiment involving healthy subjects indicated

that noise and cold exposures potentiated the effects of vibration exposure

for 10 min on plasma norepinephrine level. Whole-body cooling test for 30

min involving workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration indicated that

workers with vibration induced white finger (VWF) symptom, followed by

workers without VWF, had a significantly greater increase of plasma

norepinephrine level than the healthy control subjects. Previous reports of

animal experiment pointed out that short-term vibration exposure induced

relaxing effect on smooth muscle. It may be hypothesized that hand-

transmitted vibration has directly vasodilatation effects on local vessels and

indirect effect through the sympathetic nervous system is vasoconstriction;

the sympathetic reactivity induced by vibration, noise and cold exposures,

may be stressed by antagonistic effect to the vasodilatation.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDS UNDER COMBINED ENVIRONMENT OF TEMPERATURE AND COLOR

Matsubara N1, Gassho A2, Kurazumi Y1, Herai Y1

1Department of Environmental Design, Kyoto Prefectural University, Hangi-

cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan, 2Faculty of Regional Studies, Gifu University, Yanagido, Gifu, Japan

The purpose of this study is to clarify the combined effects of environmental

sound, temperature, and color on the evaluation of an indoor environment.

The subjects were 12 male students. Six kinds of environmental sound were

used as presentation sounds. The walls of a chamber were covered with

curtains, and the color stimulus was shown by the color of these curtains.

The illumination was 1150 lux in light blue (2.5PB9/6) and 1200 lux in orange

(2.5YR6/16). The temperature conditions were 20.5, 24.5, and 28.5oC (RH=50

%). Thermal sensation and the thermal comfort vote were measured using a

7-point scale. These scales were prepared to evaluate the thermal

environment specifically. We prepared 23 SD scales to rate the impression of

the whole room as a nonspecific evaluation. The skin temperature of each

subject was measured by a four-point method using T type thermocouples.

The measurement interval was 15 seconds. The most remarkable results were

shown in the impression of "warm-cool". The results of ANOVA showed that

the main effects of temperature and color were significant, and that the

interactions between each factor were also significant.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

APPLICATION OF THE COMBINED EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES ON THE HUMAN RESPONSES TO SOUNDSCAPE DESIGN FOR UNIVERSAL COMFORT

Nagano K1, Matsubara N2, Kurazumi Y2, Narumi D3, Horikoshi T4

1Department of Industrial Design, Kyushu Institute of Design, Fukuoka,

Japan 2Department of Environmental Design, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto,

Japan 3Department of Environmental Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan 4Department of Environmental Technology & Urban Planning, Graduate

School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Japan

The purpose of this study is to clarify what sound is pleasant in human

environment and what circumstance is pleasant for the humans. Twenty-one

male students were exposed to the 32 combined conditions of temperature

levels (19, 24⁰C (SET*)), illumination levels (5, 530 lux) and environmental

sound sources ("air conditioning noise", "wind-bell", "insects in autumn",

"wavelet on sandy beach", "train", "chirping birds", "robust cicada", "heavy

rain"). The subjects reported the impression and sensation of the exposed

environment on the ballot after presenting the sound stimuli every 150

seconds during 60 seconds exposure. The results showed that natural

sounds of chirping birds, insects in autumn and wavelet on sandy beach

improved the uncomfortable evaluation in 19⁰C-5 lux condition. However,

the same stimuli were found not always to have the similar effect on neutral

feelings resulting from another thermal and lighting condition. It is

concluded that the soundscape design is only effective in improving

environmental assessment under moderate uncomfortable conditions.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS RELATED WITH PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY: HEALTH IMPACTS OF CHILDREN LIVING IN THE VICINITY

Popov T, Lyubomirova K

Department of Toxicology, National Center of Hygiene, Medical Ecology

and Nutrition, Sofia, Bulgaria

An epidemiological study was conducted in the vicinity of the biggest

petrochemical plant on the Balkans. 713 children (1-15 years old) living in a

downwind village were chosen for the investigations compared with 633

children from two control villages. Monitoring of the ambient air with OPSIS

system registered benzene in concentration above TLV constantly during the

period. Questionnaire (used in ISAAC) was filled for all the children.

Spirometry, skin testing, blood counting, determination of serum

concentration of total IgE, Eosinophil Cation Protein (ECP) and Clara Cell

Protein (CC16) were performed. The questionnaire showed 3-7 times higher

prevalence of symptoms of respiratory system. Positive prick tests were

registered to house dust and feather in 17,3 % of exposed children and 5,2 %

of controls. Decreased lung indices (FVC, FEV1) were registered in 42 % of

the exposed children and 20 % of controls (p<0,05). 26,2 % of exposed

children had increased concentration of tIgE and 10,4 % of the controls.

Serum CC16 was decreased in 20,0 % of exposed and in 9,5 % of controls.

Odds ratios of the investigated criteria were determined. The results

obtained allow suggesting a hypothesis for the potential of p-benzoquinone

and hydroquinone- sensitizing metabolites of benzene, locally

biotransformed by Clara cells rich of cyt P450- to affect lung tissue. It could

explain the registered increase bronchi sensitivity to common aeroallergens

and the obstruction of terminal bronchi, the decreased of serum CC16

concentration and its anti-inflammatory and protective effects.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

ASSAY OF MIXTURES OF WIDELY USED IN UKRAINE PESTICIDES FOR PROMOTING ACTIVITY AND GENOTOXIC EFFECTS

Nedopytanska N, Kravchuk A, Kornuta N, Bagley E

Medved's Institute of Ecohygiene and Toxicology, Kiev, Ukraine

Pesticides are the high biological-active compounds that are specially

disseminated in environmental. It is evident that to prevent negative effect

of pesticides, especially carcinogenic effects are very important for public

health. The mixtures of 3 pesticides commonly found in the Ukraine have

been assayed in rat liver carcinogenesis. Composition of the pesticide

mixture was: Decis, Polyram and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on

the level of residues that contaminate foodstuffs. To determine promoting

activity we evaluated induction of preneoplastic foci in diethylnitrosamine-

initiated hepatocytes, by positive gammaglutamyl-transpeptidase (GGTase)

staining in liver slides. No significant increases in number and area (mm2)

per slide unit area (cm2) of GGTase-positive foci could be observed in

pesticides-treated rats with respect to controls only initiated with

diethylnitrosamine. The organotropic genotoxic effects this mixture and each

of pesticide separate studied by means of alkaline unwinding assay DNA in

cells of liver, kidney, lung, spleen and bone marrow. No increases single-

stranded breaks (SSB DNA) could be observed in testing organs after

mixture administration. The studies of genotoxic effects of each of pesticide

separately show weak increasing SSB DNA in cells of liver, kidney and bone

marrow, but on the level of higher doses. Therefore the widely used

complex pesticides, which may penetrate to human organism on the level of

residues, are not the potential carcinogenic risk.

ANOTHER VIEW FOR TWA OF CARBON DISULFIDE BASED ON CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF EXPOSED WORKERS

Popov T, Nikolova V, Mihailova A, Panev T, Chohadjieva D

National Center of Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Nutrition, Sofia, Bulgaria

TLV-TWA values of CS2 vary for the particular countries from 1 mg/m3 to 30

mg/m3. The epidemiological studies show increase health risk of chronic


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

exposure to CS2. 110 volunteer–workers from a viscose rayon factory were

enrolled. They were divided into 5 groups in dependence of CS2

concentrations of exposure. 28 health volunteers without professional

exposure to CS2 were selected as a control group. A significant correlation

(r=0.996; p<0.001) was found between external exposure and excretion of 2-

thiothiazolidine-4- carboxylic acid (TTCA) in urine. The iodine-azide test

showed high linear correlation with CS2 concentration in the air exceeding

30 mg/m3. The correlation between excretion of thiocarbamate (thiourea) and

CS2 values in the air was (r=0.49; p>0,05). Determination of exposure-

response relationship showed that the increasing of the exposure lead to the

increased number of workers with high cholesterol level and LDL, and

decreased levels of HDL and ceruloplasmine. An enlarged thyroid gland

was registered in 14.4 % of workers of the group with the highest CS2

concentration. The frequency among the women of the same group was

more than 30 %. Analysis of the results gave a base to propose TLV-TWA for

CS2 exposure 10 mg/m3 (3,2 ppm). The corresponding concentration of

TTCA in urine is 1,7 mg/g or 1,2 mmol/mol creatinine.

PILOT STUDY OF CHALLENGE BOOTH TESTING IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES

Joffres M1,2, Fox R1, Srinivas T1, Lawrence D1

1Nova Scotia Environmental Health Center, Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada 2Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie

University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

The effects of exposure to low level chemical mixtures derived from

common household materials on patients with Environmental Sensitivities

(ES)/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and control subjects was

investigated in a single-blinded, randomized, controlled pilot study

conducted in a challenge booth at the Nova Scotia Environmental Health

Centre (NSEHC), Canada. A total of 10 patients with ES and 7 control

subjects participated in the pilot study. Subjects rated symptoms (eye

irritation, fatigue, headache, nausea) and environmental attributes

(temperature, lighting, and noise level in the booth) before and after a booth

session.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Measures of cognitive function, contrast sensitivity, and peak flow were

taken before and after each session. During each exposure session,

physiological readings of heart rate variability, skin temperature, skin

conductance, EMG activity at the upper trapezius, and respiratory rate were

measured. All subjects had nose plugs and could not smell the substances.

Cases and controls had reached stability in their measurements or

habituated to the baseline protocols of the study before being challenged by

the test or control substance. ES patients only showed a distinct variation in

physiological response to exposures to the irritants in comparison to the

control group; 90 % had changes in skin conductance; 50 % in surface EMG

to glue; 50 % showed changes in skin conductance, 30 % in their surface

EMG, 20 % in respiratory patterns, and 20 % in skin temperature to a body

wash solution; 100 % showed changes in skin conductance and 30 % in

surface EMG to dryer sheet. Only one control showed a change in skin

conductance from exposure to body wash solution. Test- retest showed

consistency in the ES responses and in controls. ES patients had a higher rate

of self-reported symptoms to the test substances than the controls. This pilot

study demonstrated the importance of a habituation period in this type of

experimental design and showed for the first time differences in reactivity to

common chemicals among people with ES.

PURIFICATION EFFECTS OF PLANTS FOR INDOOR AIR-POLLUTION IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Sawada A1, Yoshida T1, Oyabu T2, Okada A2, Takenaka K3, Manninen O4

1School of Knowledege Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and

Technology, Asahidai, Tatsunokuchi, Ishikawa, Japan 2Graduate School of Regional Economic Systems, Kanazawa Seiryo

University, Ushi, Gosyo-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan 3Takenaka Garden Afforestation, Inc., Funabori, Edogawa, Japan 4Institute of High Ability of Work Organizations, Business Research Centre,

University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

Plants have purification capabilities for indoor air pollutants and offensive

odors. In this study, plants were set in a university hospital. Total Volatile

Organic Compounds (TVOC) and odors were measured to examine


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

purification effects of plants. The temperature of the plant leaves of each pot,

soil surface and each room temperature were also measured. As for the

results, the purification capability became higher as an amount of installed

plants was higher. It was understood that plants had the high purification

capability after several days from when those plants were installed. It was

confirmed that the concentration of indoor air pollutants could be lower

than outside air level with the use of plants. There was a strong correlation

between outputs of a TVOC sensor and an odor sensor. It was, however,

recognized that these sensors had somewhat different characteristics in the

lower concentration range. The leaf temperature and the soil surface

temperature were expressed as a function of room temperature. It was

recognized that the increasing rate for leaf temperatures was higher than the

soil temperatures as room temperatures were higher.

THE PRODUCTIVE WORK FORCE ISSUE CALLS FOR NEW COMBINED ACTIONS

Manninen O

Institute for High Ability of Work Organizations, Business Research Centre,

University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

Because of the prospective reduction in the availability of labor it is a wise

policy to take good care of the present employees. The correct utilization

and well-being of labor requires taking many simultaneous measures in the

work organizations. Our latest experiences and knowledge indicate that the

main point here is how to combine the work ability of employees with

economic productivity in a new way. This way is based on the notion that

the business goals of a company can be achieved most reliably by healthy,

motivated and satisfied personnel. This is a very topical multidisciplinary

task for which a new research, education and development institute was

founded at the University of Tampere. Together with Finnish and foreign

experts the institute creates three types of new products to promote people's

work ability (and lifetime learning), knowledge management, and incentive

activities, motivation and rewarding systems.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON IMMUNOLOGICAL EFFECT OF NOISE EXPOSURE IN MICE—PRELIMINARY HYPOTHESIS OF INFLUENCE OF NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Ariizumi M, Zheng K-C, Fong K

Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the

Ryukyus, Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan

The immune responses of mice exposed to noise stress 12 hours daily for 18

days were investigated. Immune responses were estimated by antibody

production to sheep red blood cell (SRBC), lymphoproliferation response

and relative change of lymphocyte subsets in the thymus and spleen, with

reference to plasma corticosteroid and catecholamine levels. A decrease in

antibody response to SRBC, with an increase of plasma corticosteroid levels

and a decrease in total number of thymocyte, were observed in mice

challenged with SRBC on the 7th day of noise exposure. The antibody

response, however, was enhanced over control levels in mice challenged on

the 18th day, with a decrease in corticosteroid levels and an increase in

thymocyte number. The catecholamine level increased considerably after

onset of the noise stress. A decrease of CD4/CD8 double negative cells, with

a relative increase of CD4/CD8 double positive cells, was also observed in

the thymus on day 3. Both CD4+ and CD8+ single positive cells also

decreased significantly in the thymus. These results suggest that depression

of T-cell differentiation lineage in the thymus occurred in the stressed mice.

The relative number of CD4+/CD8- (helper type) lymphocytes decreased in

the spleen of mice on the 3rd day of the noise stress. Changes in the relative

population of the lymphocyte subset, however, recovered to nearly normal

levels on the 18th day of the experiment. These results indicate that the noise

stress has an essentially enhancing effect on the immune system, although a

transient suppression of the immune response was observed in the acute

period of noise stress. The effects of noise stress on the immune system were

clearly related to the neuroendocrine system.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

BLOOD CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN AFTER EXPOSURE TO DICHLOROMETHANE AND CARBON MONOXIDE IN RATS

Teramoto K, Kiyota I, Endo G

Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, Osaka City

University Medical School, Asahimachi, Abeno, Osaka, Japan

Dichloromethane (DCM) a widely used industrial chemical can be

metabolized to CO and observed as COHb. In occupational and general

environments, COHb is produced from CO due to incomplete combustion.

The aim of this study was to compare the changes in COHb after exposure to

DCM with exposure CO and after single exposure to DCM or to CO using

rats. Male SD rats were divided into 7 groups, and 3 groups were exposed

to 500, 200 or 50 ppm of DCM for 4 hours, one group to 300 ppm CO for 30

minutes and the remaining 3 groups were exposed to 500, 200 or 50 ppm of

DCM for 4 hours and then to 300 ppm CO for 30 minutes. Both DCM in

blood after exposure to DCM and after exposure to DCM with subsequent

exposure to CO decreased exponentially, with a half-life of 13 minutes. The

half-life of COHb after 4-hour exposure to DCM was 58 minutes, that after

30-minute exposure to CO was about 37 minutes and that after 4-hour

exposure to DCM with subsequent 30-minute exposure to CO was about 50

minutes. Further analysis showed that the COHb decrease after exposure to

DCM with subsequent exposure to CO could be expressed as a sum of an

exponential formula, and the concentration of COHb increased

additively. DCM-derived blood COHb and CO-derived blood COHb

showed additive increases on exposure to DCM with subsequent exposure

to CO.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

SYNERGIC EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO CHLORINATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ON RAT HEPATOTOXICITY

Honma T, Suda M, Miyagawa M

Department of Health Effects Research, National Institute of Industrial

Health, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan

We investigated changes in the liver and in markers of tissue injury in rats

exposed to chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. Changes in plasma

lipoproteins were very sensitive compared with traditional hepatotoxicity

markers such as GOT (ALT) and GPT (AST). Plasma lipoproteins seemed to

be useful biomarkers of hepatotoxicity induced by chlorinated organic

chemicals. We estimated liver damage according to liver weight, lipid

accumulation and lipid peroxide levels in rats that had inhaled both

chemicals simultaneously for six hours. Increases in GOT, GPT, and LDH

activity and decreases in plasma lipoproteins were measured as

hepatotoxicity markers. Liver damage and changes in markers were

significantly more serious than after exposure to either chemical alone. We

found that simple criteria can discriminate synergistic from additive effects

of inhalation exposure.

CONCENTRATION-RESPONSE CURVE SLOPE ANALYSIS IN CHEMICAL MIXTURE TOXICITY

Dawson D1, Pöch G2

1Department of Biology/Toxicology, Ashland University, Ashland, USA 2Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Graz, Austria

Concentration-response curve data for single-chemicals and mixtures from

four selected two-chemical combinations were examined in order to

evaluate the relationship between the slopes of the curves and the combined

effect of the toxicants. The toxicity test data had been previously generated

using a 96-h frog embryo assay examining chemical-induced microcephaly

or osteolathyrism. For each combination, concentration-response curve data

for each chemical alone (A and B) and for each mixture represented a

minimum of five treatments with at least 50 embryos per treatment.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

ALLFIT was used for curve-fitting to generate slope values for statistical

comparison using the F-test, with significance at P<0.05. The combinations

selected included two pairs of osteolathyrogens previously shown to have

either dose-additive or greater-than dose-additive osteolathyritic effects in

combination and two pairs of carboxylic acids previously shown to have

less-than dose-additive or dose-additive toxicity, using the O2 goodness-of-

fit test. Mixtures with dose-additive toxicity had single-chemical and

mixture response-curve slopes that were similar, indicating a common

molecular site of action, while non-dose-additive mixtures had both single-

chemical and mixture response-curve slopes that were significantly

different, indicating either different molecular sites of action or an additional

site of action for one of the agents. The results suggest that evaluation of

concentration-response curve slopes in conjunction with combined effects

determination will provide information relevant to the molecular site of

action of the agents.

COMBINED CAUSATIVE FACTORS IN ENDEMIC FLUOROSIS

Dote T1, Usuda K1, Shimizu H1, Kawasaki T1, Mitsui T1, Kawamura K1,

Kono K1, Nagisa N2, Hashiguchi N2, Shimahara M2

1Department of Hygiene and Public Health, 2Department of Oral Surgery,

Osaka Medical College, Daigakumachi, Takatsuki City, Osaka, Japan

An outbreak of endemic fluorosis depends on oral intake dose of fluoride

(F), gastrointestinal absorption, and renal excretion capacity. All of these

factors should be investigated comprehensively, not simply the

concentration of F in drinking water. The first causative factor, oral intake is

influenced by environmental and occupational conditions, e. g., increased

water consumption avoid or relieve dehydration. The second factor,

gastrointestinal absorption, reflects dietary and physical factors. Fasting

empties the stomach, increasing concentrations gastric acid. High gastric

acidity promotes absorption of F. In turn, increased of F intake reportedly

stimulates H+ ion secretion by the gastric mucosa. The third factor,

excretion, depends on metabolic and renal factors.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Chronically low calcium intake promotes parathyroid hormone secretion,

resulting in serum acidification: This acidosis decreases F excretion. Further

hypoproteinemia caused by malnutrition decreases osmolarity, blood

volume, renal plasma flow, and ultimately glomerular filtration rate, which

decreases F excretion.

COMBINED EFFECTS ON OSTEOSCLEROSIS IN ENDEMIC SKELETAL FLUOROSIS

Dote T1, Yoshida Y1, Hayashi S1, Watanabe M1, Kono K1, Tanaka Y2,

Hashiguchi H2, Shimahara M2

1Department of Hygiene and Public health, 2Department of Oral Surgery,

Osaka Medical College, Daigakumachi, Takatsuki City, Osaka, Japan

Various bone lesions such as osteomalacia, osteoporosis, and osteosclerosis

may occur in skeletal fluorosis. Of these osteosclerotic change is relatively

unusual in other acquired diseases. Although fluoride exposure is the main

cause malnutrition aggravates fluorosis, and patients with fluorosis typically

show hyperparathyroidism. Four mechanisms of osteosclerosis in fluorosis

are hypothesized in this study. First, intermittent secretion of parathyroid

hormone (PTH) accelerates bone formation. Second, various changes in

circulating of PTH occur nutritional conditions are aggravating factor in

developing countries with many causes of fluorosis. Chronically low serum

ionized calcium (Ca2+) raises the serum Ca2+ concentration required for 50%

reduction in PTH secretion: set point. A decrease in activated vitamin D

leads to decreases in receptors in kidney and intestine for PTH and also

makes bone more resistant to PTH. Various metabolic states can improve or

aggravate these changes. Third, PTH secretion continues to be high after

normalization of Ca2+. Forth, PTH secretion is prolonged despite sufficient

Ca2+ supply, resulting from a high set point of PTH for serum Ca2+. Thus,

intermittently high serum concentrations of PTH accelerate bone formation.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

COMBINED EFFECTS OF GENETIC AND BEHAVIORAL FACTORS ON BONE DENSITY AND ITS CHANGE OVER THREE YEARS IN REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES OF THE JAPANESE WOMEN

Iki M1, Morita A1, Dohi Y2, Ikeda Y1, Kagamimori S3, Kagawa Y4 and

Yoneshima H5 for JPOS Study Group

1Department of Public Health, Kinki University School of Medicine,

Oono-higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan 2Department of Public Health, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan 3Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, Toyama Medical and

Pharmaceutical University, Toyama City, Toyama, Japan 4Kagawa Nutrition University, Sakado, Saitama, Japan 5Kasukabe Shuuwa Hospital, Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan

The effect of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism on bone

mineral density (BMD) is still controversial. Possible causes of this

difference in the results may include confounding due to environmental or

behavioral factors. In a large-scale population-based study, we evaluated a

sole effect of VDR genotype on BMD as well as its combined effects with

behavioral factors. The subjects analyzed were 778 premenopausal and 604

postmenopausal women randomly selected from 3 municipalities in Japan.

The VDR gene polymorphisms at the start codon in the exon 2 detected by

FokI restriction endonuclease digestion, at the ApaI and TaqI restriction sites

in the intron 8 and exon 9, respectively, and at the caudal-related

homeodomein protein binding site in the promoter region of the VDR gene

were analyzed. Behavioral factors were obtained by detailed interviews.

BMD at the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN) and distal 1/3 site of the

radius (DR) was measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Annual change in BMD ( BMD) was determined three years after the

baseline. Significant differences in BMD or BMD over the genotypes were

observed in some of the VDR polymorphisms. However, such associations

were not consistent over the skeletal sites. In premenopausal women, we

found a significant interaction between the FokI genotype and having had

milk every day or having participated in a sport club in junior high school

age to affect BMD at LS or LS and FN, respectively, after controlling for the

effects of age, height and weight.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

The subjects with daily milk consumption or with sport club participation

showed significantly greater BMD than in the other subjects in those with a

particular allele. Similarly, significant interaction between ApaI genotype

and intake of milk at baseline on BMD was found in postmenopausal

women. Greater intake of milk at baseline was related to smaller loss of

BMD at every skeletal site in the heterozygotic subjects. We conclude that

the VDR polymorphisms examined here do not exert a significant

independent effect on BMD at baseline and on its change over time in

Japanese women but may interact with certain behavioral factors to affect

BMD.

INTERACTIONS OF VITAMINS C AND E, b-CAROTENE, AND SELENIUM WITH TOXIC METALS

Yu MH

Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University,

Bellingham, Washington, USA

One of the several factors that can influence the toxicity of metals is their

interaction with essential mineral elements and vitamins. This paper reviews

the health and toxicological effects of the three heavy metals Pb, Cd, and Hg,

and a nonmetal As, and their interactions with vitamins E and C, b-carotene,

and selenium (Se). The three metals and As are all potent environmental

toxicants, and their exposure can lead to damage in various organs and

tissues. Additionally, Cd and As are designated as carcinogens. The metals

and As share close similarities among themselves with respect to their

biochemical and toxicological characteristics, including their ability to

oxidize glutathione (GSH), a major antioxidant in the cell, and interact with

sulfhydryl (SH) groups on proteins and enzymes. Furthermore, they can

induce lipid peroxidation and increase oxidative stress. Both vitamins E and

C and b-carotene are well-recognized antioxidants, and can react with lipid

free radicals, lowering lipid peroxidation and membrane damage. As part of

the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, Se plays an important role in mitigating

tissue damages induced by Pb, Cd, Hg, and As. Growing evidence suggests

that oxidative stress induced by these toxicants may be an important

mechanism involved in their manifested toxic effects.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

CYTOKINE EXPRESSION IN MURINE MODEL OF RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY INDUCED BY TOLUENE DIISOCYANATE

Zheng KC, Yamamoto H, Ariizumi M

Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the

Ryukyus, Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytokine status and their gene

expressions in airway of asthmatic mouse induced by toluene diisocyanate

(TDI). The mice were exposed to TDI vapor for 5 consecutive days, then

bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and the cellular contents in

the BAL fluid were analysed. Lung was histologically examined to

determine the inflammatory status in the airways. Total serum IgE and IL-4

and IL-5 concentrations in the BAL fluid were quantified with ELISA kits.

IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA from BAL cells were analysed by RT-PCR. The

histological examination and airway cell counting revealed that TDI

exposure caused airway inflammation characterized by marked infiltration

of eosinophils in both central and peripheral airways. Total serum IgE was

significantly enhanced in the mice exposed to TDI. Although IL-4 and IL-5

concentrations in the BAL fluid were significantly increased in the TDI-

exposed mice, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA from BAL cells were not significantly

increased. The results indicated that Th2 cytokines are predominantly

secreted in TDI-induced airway hypersensitivity. However, it could not be

determined from our data whether the secretion of cytokine in the airway is

controlled by gene transcription level.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF GLUTATHIONE, BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO ACID SOLUTION AND MANNITOL OF LETHAL TOXICITY OF MONOCHLOROACETIC ACID

Iwai J, Dote T, Shimizu H, Koizumi C, Watanabe M, Kono K

Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Osaka Medical College,

Daigakumachi, Takatsuki City, Osaka, Japan

There have been many reports about fatal systemic poisonings after skin

exposure to monochloroacetic acid (MCA). They suggested that acute lethal


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

damage is mainly caused by such as cardio-respiratory disorders and

anomalies of the central nerve system, for example. As there are no specific

and effective treatments, it is necessary to start detoxification of MCA as the

first therapeutic step. It is also important to prevent and improve brain

edema for cerebral protection. Glutathione (GSH), branched-chain amino

acid solution (BCAA) and mannitol were experimentally administered to

detect the therapeutic effects. They were not considerably effective for lethal

toxicity in acute phase after MCA exposure from the survival rates.

Although GSH slightly detoxified MCA from the laboratory data of

decreased lactate and pyruvate, nephro-hepatic injury was not apparently

reduced. BCAA was inappropriate under complications of hyperlactemia

and hyperammonemia. Although mannitol resulted in a decrease in intra-

cranial pressure, concentrated mannitol would aggravate dehydration

caused after MCA exposure. Serum hyperosmolality aggravated cerebral

and general condition in the mannitol group. These treatments were

ineffectual for acute lethal phase after MCA exposure. Therefore, it is

necessary to progressively investigate the mechanism of toxic effects and

main target organs leading to direct mortality.

ENHANCEMENT OF MUTAGENIC ACTIVITY OF CISPLATIN BY CO-EXPOSURE TO 50 HZ ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

Miyakoshi Y, Suzuki Y, Shimizu H

Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, The Jikei

University School of Medicine, Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

The machines (nuclear magnetic resonance systems NMR, magnetic

resonance imaging system MRI, personal computer, cellular phone, and so

on) that generate electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been recently

developed, and we have an increased chance of exposure to EMFs. Some

studies in environmentally and occupationally exposed to EMFs have

suggested an increased risk of brain tumors and leukemia. We investigated

the mutagenicity of co-exposure to 50 Hz EMFs and cisplatin using in vivo

new-born rat astrocytes micronucleus assay.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

Three day-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were co-exposed to EMFs (50

Hz, 6.7 mT) and cisplatin for 72 h. The brain cells were dissociated into

single cells and cultured for 96 h, and the cells were stained with anti-glial

fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody and acridine orange. The frequency

of micronucleated astrocytes was counted under fluorescent microscope. No

significant increased frequency of micronuclei was observed in rat astrocytes

exposed to EMFs. Cisplatin significantly induced micronuclei in astrocytes

(P<0.01), and furthermore significant increased frequency of micronuclei was

observed in the co-exposure to cisplatin and EMFs (P<0.01).We showed that

co-exposure to 50 Hz EMFs enhanced the mutagenic activity of cisplatin.

DO MICROWAVES PRODUCE OTHER EFFECTS THAN THERMAL ACTIONS ON UTEROPLACENTAL FUNCTIONS IN PREGNANT RATS?

Nakamura H1, Ogino K1, Nobukuni Y1, Kambayashi Y1, Matsuzaki I2,

Okada A3

1Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of

Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Japan 2Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba,Tennodai, Japan 3Kanazawa Seiryo University, Gosha-machi, Kanazawa, Japan

Exposure to microwaves with high densities can cause detrimental effects on

testis and eye and induce significant biological changes as their thermal

actions. To examine whether specific non-thermal effect of microwaves

different from heat exists, we compared the effects of microwaves with those

of heat on the endocrine and immune functions during pregnancy. Twenty-

four pregnant rats were assigned to four groups; rats exposed to microwaves

at 2 mW/cm2 incident power density (CW) at 2450 MHz, rats bathed at water

of 38⁰C which induces about the same increase in colonic temperature by 1.0 ⁰C as the microwaves of 2 mW/cm2, rats bathed at water of 34⁰C which is

considered to be thermoneutral, and control rats. All the treated durations

were 90 min. We could recognize significant differences in the change of

blood estradiol and progesterone as well as prolactin and splenic NKCA

between pregnant rats bathed at 34⁰C and 38 ⁰C, but not between rats bathed

at 38⁰C and exposed to microwaves at 2 mW/cm2.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

These results suggest no specific non-thermal effects of microwaves at 2

mW/cm2 incident power density at 2450 MHz equal to the SAR of 0.40 W/kg,

which is the maximum permissible exposure level recommended by the

American National Institute (ANSI), more than action of heat on

uteroplacental functions. Whether microwaves much above the maximum

permissible level exert specific non-thermal effects on pregnancy should be

examined in the future studies.

THE ROLE OF RISK FACTORS IN NOISE- INDUCED HEARING LOSS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF SOPHISTIGATED HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Starck J1, Toppila E1, Pyykkö I2

1Department of Physics, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki,

Finland 2Department of Otolaryngology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Hearing conservation programs (HCP) focus on occupational noise in work

life and also to a wide range of environmental noise which all should be

included in the evaluation of the total noise exposure. The exposure of the

inner ear to noise is also dependent on the use of hearing protectors. The

highest risk exists in occupations in which workers are exposed to impulsive

noise. Properly selected HPDs decrease the noise levels at ear below the risk

limit in industrial environments. However, according to our experience the

usage rate of hearing protectors in industry is often low varying from 55 %

in paper mill to 90 % in forestry work providing 3-10 dB protection

efficiency over the whole exposure period. Contributing factors like

smoking, use of painkiller, high blood pressure and cholesterol explain the

large variation in the hearing loss. The risk factors seem to have an additive

effect with each other and even with noise. Smoking increased the level of

hearing loss only in combination with other risk factors. Moreover there

seems to be a dependency of the age. Elderly workers are more susceptible

to noise trauma than younger workers.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

In risk analysis the contributing factors partly masked the effects of noise in

the development of hearing loss (HL). For subjects with less than two

contributing factors, occupational noise exposure determined the

development of NIHL. As the number of contributing factors increased, the

noise exposure was overruled by these factors in the development of hearing

loss. Factors independently but causally related to age, were important in

the development of NIHL among workers exposed to noise levels below 98

dB (A). Our results indicate that HCP actions can be improved if we can

improve the risk assessment and the validity of exposure evaluation. The

urgent task is to develop expert programs and models, which include all risk

factors i.e. individual susceptibility and life time exposure evaluation

including leisure time and military service exposure. Effective HCP focuses

on prediction of the development of NIHL at individual level.

HEALTH EFFECT COMBINED WITH WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION EXPOSURE

Uchikune M

Department of Precision Machinery Engineering, College of Science and

Technology, Nihon University, Narashinodai, Funabashi-shi, Chiba, Japan

The purpose of this study is to clarify physiological and psychological effects

of feet vibration on subjects and the seasonal effects with special reference to

differences in the effects between them. Moreover, it is under planning to

evaluate the autonomic nervous system in the future. Heart rate, respiratory

rate, salivation, and subjective symptoms were measured before the time of

starting and at the time of 15 minutes at the acceleration ranging from 0.0348

to 3.77 m/s2(rms). Frequency and acceleration of the experiment were

simultaneously determined. The acceleration at which the variations of

physiological indications to the baseline reached peak was proved to be 3.77

m/s2(rms). In December, the evaluation words of "great, active, strong,

violent" were shown to be bigger than in August. From the measurements,

these changes caused a frequency, acceleration, and a feet vibration of

human-body by the involving exposure vibration and could get it in all

season.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SOLUBLE SILICA AND Na+ IN THE SOIL IN A SALINE AREA, XINJIANG, N.W. CHINA, AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

Tanaka M1, Takahashi K2

1Tokyo University of Fisheries, Konan, Minato, Tokyo, Japan 2RIKEN, Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, Japan

As salinization of soil in arid land is very difficult to de-alkalinize (recover

the quality of) soil which has undergone alkalization, it is important to know

the first step of the alkalization of soil to prevent soil alkalization. The

distribution of water-soluble alkaline, alkaline earth ions and silica

contained was measured in soil samples from saline area. The concentration

of silica was used as one kind of the tracer in natural waters, which are

mostly made of sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl2)

solutions, because the concentration of silica is due to the concentration of

NaCl and CaCl2 solutions in vitro system. The content of water-soluble silica

in the salinized soil decreased with increasing sodium ion (Na+)

concentration, because salting-out effect of silica occurs even at low

concentrations of Na+. The distribution of the silica content shows a

significantly large variation. This implies that the variety of distribution of

silica is subject to the environmental condition more than that of the Na+. As

the distribution pattern of silica is complementary to that of Na+, it would

show the possibility of monitoring the degree of alkalization of soil. It is

important to measure the distribution of soluble silica as well as the soluble

Na+ in the soil in order to obtain the information about the primary step of

alkalization of soil.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

THE ENACTMENT OF THE FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURAL ORDINANCE RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL WATER QUALITY CONSERVATION OF LAKE INAWASHIRO AND THE LAKES OF URABANDAI DISTRICT

Tsunoda M1, Gotou K2, Nakamura M3

1Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University, Japan 2Fukushima Prefectural Government, Environmental Regulation Division,

Japan 3Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Nihon University,

Japan

Lake Inawashiro is located in Fukushima Prefecture in the northern part of

Japan. The water quality of Lake Inawashiro has been kept high quality

level for COD, SS, DO and the coliform group. The class of Lake Inawashiro

according to Japanese environmental water quality standards is A (COD 75

% value is 3 mg/l or less), and the measured value has been about 0.5

mg/l. The class of Lake Inawashiro according to environmental water quality

standards with regard to the eutrophication is U (total phosphorus is 0.01

mg/l or less), and the measured value has been about 0.003 mg/l. However,

some signs of water pollution have been observed recently. To prevent

further pollution, new regulations were required which considered the

combined effects of environmental factors. The Fukushima prefectural

assembly agreed upon a prefectural ordinance to ensure water quality

conservation of Lake Inawashiro and the lakes of Urabandai district. The

ordinance is intended to keep the water quality in these districts as its

present level. The effluent standards specified are the strictest in Japan. The

enactment of such an ordinance to prevent water pollution sets a precedent

in Japan.


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COMBINED EFFECT OF THE EXPOSURE TO FRUIT-TREE POLLEN ALLERGEN AND THE OTHER POLLEN ALLERGENS AMONG JAPANESE PEAR FARMERS

Teranishi H1, Uchida M1, Katoh T1, Hayashi S2

1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama Medical and

Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan 2Department of Agriculture Technology, Toyama Prefectural University,

Toyama, Japan

Occupational pollinosis to pear pollen has been described among the

Japanese pear farmers. In the literature, pear pollen allergen using in

artificial pollination was emphasized as a causative agent. However several

other allergens were suspected to be causative agents such as allergenic

grass pollens and agricultural chemicals. We conducted epidemiological

studies to clarify the true causative agents. We performed airborne pollen

survey using volumetric personal sampler (Personal Volumetric Air

Sampler, Burkard, England) during the pollination season of Japanese pear

in 2001. As a result, we found that abundant pear pollen grains (8,300/m3)

were wafting in the air of pollen preparation room. We found also that more

quantity of spores of Lycopodium clavatum was contaminated in the room

when they were used as additives. In an orchard during the artificial

pollination, the concentration of annual bluegrass (Poa annua L., a major

species in the undergrowth of orchard) pollen was found to be higher than

that of pear pollen (5,200/m3 vs. 610/m3). Among 178 farmers, 29 persons

(16.3 %) complained work-related allergic symptoms by questionnaire

survey. Among ten pollinosis cases, six patients showed positive RAST to

Japanese pear. Positive rate of IgE antibody to bluegrass pollen was also

higher than that of Japanese pear pollen among ten pollinosis

patients. However more cases showed positive RAST to annual bluegrass.

Some cases showed positive to Lycopodium. These results suggest that the

environmental allergic pollens and/or spores have important roles combined

with the pear pollen allergen to induce the allergic symptoms among

Japanese pear farmers.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

CEDAR POLLEN FORECASTING IN THE KANTO REGION

Delaunay JJ1, Fedra K2, Kubat M2

1NTT Lifestyle and Environmental Technology Laboratories, Morinosato

Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan, 2Environmental Software & Services, GmbH, Kalkgewerk,

Gumpoldskirchen, Austria

In Japan, airborne cedar pollen is known as a major source of allergens in the

ambient air and is reported to be the main cause of pollinosis. We have

developed a pollen forecasting system that simulates the time-varying three-

dimensional pollen concentration. The system includes all the major

processes involved in pollen transport such as flowerage, emission,

advection and dispersion. The model uses a land cover dataset, a digital

elevation model, and meteorological observation and forecast data.

Furthermore, the system uses real-time pollen concentrations obtained from

the NTT sensing network to correct the pollen forecasts. The system

generated pollen concentration maps that were published in real-time on

our web/WAP sites. Maps for 10 cities were derived on a larger scale from a

regional model covering the Kanto area. For dissemination and analysis

purposes, we applied a 4-level classification index to the computed pollen

concentration: low, moderate, high and very high concentration. We

reported results for the Kanto region. The system forecast produced the

correct classification in more than 50 % of cases. Our web pollen forecast site

offered an improved understanding of the spatiotemporal variations in the

pollen concentration in the air, by providing maps and interactive

animations of forecasts. The forecast was displayed in real-time using the

latest information technologies such as an interactive web animation tool

and color animation on a mobile phone. An analysis of our site log files

revealed that web users preferred detailed city-level information with a

good spatiotemporal resolution to regional results.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

LESSONS LEARNT FROM MINAMATA DISEASE - AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Tamashiro H1, Kinjo Y2, Sakamoto M3

1Department of Health for Senior Citizens, Division of Preventive Medicine,

Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-ku, Sapporo,

Hokkaido, Japan 2Department of and Health Information and Epidemiology, Okinawa

Prefectural College of Nursing, Yogi, Naha, Okinawa, Japan 3Department of Epidemiology, The National Institute for Minamata Disease,

Hama, Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan

Minamata disease is a neurological disorder caused by ingestion of large

quantities of fish and/or shellfish contaminated with methylmercury in the

wastewater. The disease was officially reported in Minamata city in May

1956, followed by the outbreak in Niigata in 1965. Already at the end of

1956, heavy metal intoxication and pollution of fish and/or shellfish were

suspected as a cause of this peculiar disease by Kumamoto University

Research Group. The Research Group under the Ministry also reported in

March 1957 that the disease was most likely caused by poisoning due to the

intake of fish and/or shellfish in Minamata Bay. In September 1968, the

Government officially acknowledged that these diseases (Minamata and

Niigata) were caused by methylmercury compound, which was a byproduct

of the industrial process. It took for 12 years from the first official case

reporting to the announcement of the Government's unified view. How did

each stakeholder do during these years and beyond? How were the

decisions made under the uncertainties where scientific evidences were

insufficient? There are many other questions to be critically evaluated. These

evaluations will provide us with the valuable lessons on the prevention of

unforeseeable risks in the future.


ACES 14(3-4) 2002

NEW LEGISLATION FOR GEO-ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURE SYSTEM

Fujioka S, Matsuzaka S, Sasaki T, Okazaki Y, Buntara S, Gan I, Ueno S

Member of Working Group for Global network, Corporate Planning

Committee, Geo-Environmental Protection Center (GEPC),

Kojimachi, Chiyodaku, Tokyo, Japan

New legislation for geo-environmental protection measure system was

proclamated on 29th of May at the Diet and is to be enforced from 1st of

January 2003. Related governmental and ministerial ordinances are now

under review by Ministry of Environment and relevant authorities, and will

be announced before then. The objective of this legislation is the prevention

from hazardous influence caused by soil and groundwater contamination to

human health and to ecological systems and the recovery of economic value

of the land as a result. Those who own /manage/ govern the land

(hereinafter "the land owner…") should survey the contamination when they

close down their business and should report the result of the survey to the

concerned municipality. The municipality should register the land as "risk

controlled land…" in the official inventory and notify to the public. The

landowner should take appropriate measures for reduction of

environmental risk in consideration of current and/or future land-use, etc.

Government should specify the objective technical standard for risk

reduction plan and municipality should give the guidance, advice and / or

orders to inappropriate plan and should conduct on-the-spot inspection and

the corrective actions, if necessary. Support system for the liable party to

execute measures for risk reduction shall be required, low-interest lows, tax

system, and / or fund system.

Documents

Book of Abstractsöelämäosaaminen.fi/aineisto/Book of Abstracts_ICCEF 2002.… · Publishing Office S. Siuro, Tampere, Finland . Book of Abstracts: ICCEF 2002 ACES 14(3-4) 2002