[Survey of Arsenic/Heavy Metals and Pesticide Residues in Edible Insects for Human Consumption or Supplied in Japan].

Arsenic (As) and heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, and Cu) and pesticide residues in 14 edible insects were investigated. The maximum levels of elements were 6.15 for As, 0.82 for Cd, 0.50 for Hg, 0.67 for Pb, and 297.7 ppm for Cu. Fenobucarb (or BPMC) has been quantified through GC- and LC-MS/MS analysis at a concentration of approximately 3 ppm. Further studies of the contaminants may help ensure the safety of edible insect consumption.

Density predictive model for an outbreak in adult female Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Japan.

We developed a predictive model for activities and outbreaks of female Aedes albopictus Skuse, using meteorological data. The number of Ae. albopictus collected from human bait-sweep net collection (h-BNC) surveillance, conducted by the local government between 2010 and 2019 in Japan, was adopted as a mosquito-activity indicator. The best model was composed of the backward cumulative and backward moving mean of meteorological data (parameters that were measured daily include mean, maximum, and minimum temperature, mean humidity, amount of precipitation, maximum wind speed, and sunshine hours). The root mean squared error (RMSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2) of the best model for the test set, which was not included in the training dataset, were 1.33 and 0.74, respectively. The best model was applied to predict the number of Ae. albopictus obtained from our own h-BNC surveillance in Okazaki City, Japan. RMSE and R2 of the results were 1.17 and 0.92, respectively. The present model, using publicly available meteorological values, can predict the collection number of adult Ae. albopictus using h-BNC surveillance thereby providing information to control mosquito activities and outbreaks. Therefore, it may be possible to mitigate the risk of mosquito-borne infections and secondary adverse effects of mosquito bites, such as infectious impetigo and deterioration of the quality of life.

Temporal trend and cross-sectional characterization of urinary concentrations of glyphosate in Japanese children from 2006 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, domestic shipments of glyphosate (Gly), in the form of an ionic salt, have been increasing steadily in Japan. This increase has raising concerns about the effects of chemical exposure on children. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified Gly as a "probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A)" in 2015. The purpose of the current study was to analyze Gly in urine samples of Japanese children to determine temporal changes, seasonal changes, and gender differences. METHOD: First-morning urine samples were obtained from 50 Japanese children (4-6-year-old) in October of 2006, 2011, and 2015 (total = 150) to investigate the temporal trends in urinary Gly concentrations. Additionally, first-morning urine samples were collected from 3-year-old children in August-September of 2012 (summer; n = 42) and in February of 2013 (winter; n = 42) to investigate the seasonal and gender differences, and the correlations between urinary Gly concentrations and insecticide exposure biomarkers. Urine samples were analyzed to measure for Gly using a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: Detectable Gly concentrations were found in 41% of the 234 children. The 75th percentile and maximum concentrations of urinary Gly were 0.20 and 1.33 µg/L, respectively. The urinary Gly concentration in 2015 was significantly higher than in 2006, suggesting that the Gly exposure levels have been increasing. No seasonal or gender-specific differences in urinary Gly concentrations were observed, and no correlation with insecticide exposure biomarkers was found. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that Gly exposure trends show an increase between 2006 and 2015, and that season and gender were not the exposure-determining factors. Overall, urinary concentrations of Gly were comparable with studies from other countries.