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1.
Food Addit Contam ; 19(12): 1200-6, 2002 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12623681

ABSTRACT

The migration of five surrogate contaminants, anthracene, benzophenone, dimethyl phthalate, methyl stearate and pentachlorophenol, from paper and paperboard into water through a polyethylene (PE) coating layer was investigated. Virgin paper and paperboard coated with PE films of 0.012 and 0.030 mm thickness were spiked evenly with standard 1-ml solutions containing 5mg of each surrogate. The spiked papers were placed in contact with the PE coating layer at 10 and 24 degrees C for 21 days. The resulting surrogate migration through the PE layer into 100ml water was measured by an analytical method developed here that used gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. Non-polar surrogates of anthracene and methyl stearate did not show any significant migration. In the case of the thin layer coating of 0.012 mm, polar water-soluble contaminants of benzophenone, dimethyl phthalate and pentachlorophenol showed an equilibrated or maximized migration after 1 day, even at a refrigerated temperature of 10 degrees C. A thick PE coating of 0.030 mm thickness delayed the progress of contaminant migration, which was also slower at lower temperature. Our results indicate that polyethylene coatings should not be seen as a complete barrier against possible contaminants in paper packaging materials under chilled or ambient conditions. Several variables such as coating thickness, temperature and suspected contaminants need to be considered to control the possible contamination risk from recycled or printed paper.


Subject(s)
Food Contamination/analysis , Food Packaging , Paper , Polyethylene/chemistry , Water/chemistry , Absorption , Chromatography, Gas , Humans , Temperature
3.
Environ Health Prev Med ; 4(4): 190-8, 2000 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21432484

ABSTRACT

Obesity is a risk factor for life-style-related diseases, and is based on three factors: genetic, environmental, and life-style. In adults, it is difficult to achieve and maintain normal body weight, so it is more effective to intervene from infancy to establish weight control. Legally required health checkups in infants of 18 and 36 months present important opportunities for obesity prevention. We consider genetic analysis to be a very important factor for obesity prevention in infancy. However, since health checkups don't involve the collection of blood, genetic analysis is considered difficult. In this study, we attempted the typing of beta3 adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism as a genetic factor from non-invasively obtained samples, buccal mucosa, hair and cerumen in 96 infants at their 18- and 36-month health checkups. Sampling buccal mucosa, hair and cerumen instead of blood caused almost no anxiety to the child or parent, so 94.1% cooperation with sampling was obtained. From buccal mucosa, about 76% of the samples could be used for the typing of polymorphism (81% by enzyme method, 59% by kit method). From hair, about 44% of the samples permitted typing of polymorphism, but from cerumen only about 4% of the samples could be used. Results from buccal mucosa and hair typed about 90% of infant polymorphism. These results suggest that this method would be practical at periodic health checkups, and would probably be applicable to mass screenings for genetic factor analysis for other diseases.

5.
Environ Health Prev Med ; 3(4): 184-9, 1999 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21432523

ABSTRACT

We determined concentrations of chlordanes (5 chlordane compounds and 2 metabolites) in tissues and organs of mice following a prolonged exposure to Chlordane (technical grade chlordane) at levels as low as those in indoor air.After exposure to 4.22-11.36 µ g/m(3) Chlordane (total of 5 compounds) in the air for 1-6 months, 6.44-13.00 ppm chlordanes (total of 7 compounds) were detected in mice (2 tissues and 6 organs). The adipose tissue among the 2 tissues / 6 organs examined contained the highest chlordanes. The ratio of the adipose tissue chlordanes to the liver chlordanes was approximately 5.6 times, followed by the muscle (0.9), lungs (0.4), kidneys (0.4), heart (0.3), spleen (0.2) and brain (0.1). In addition, trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane and heptachlorepoxide in chlordanes were at a high level.The level of Chlordane exposure (dose) and the level of chlordanes accumulation in each tissue or organ of the mice except for the heart were closely correlated (r=0.9388-0.7130), and showed a linear relationship. The tendency of chlordanes accumulation in light of the linear relationship was adipose ≫ liver ≥ muscle.Thus, even with a low level of Chlordane in indoor air, chlordanes may be steadily accumulated in the bodies of human residents with prolonged exposure similarly. The present findings suggest that it is necessary to investigate die risk of organochlorine chemicals contamination in indoor air at prolonged exposure.

6.
Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi ; 45(8): 693-703, 1998 Aug.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9809004

ABSTRACT

We investigated the factors that affect participation rates in chest X-ray mass screenings among 20-59 year-old residents in A city, Kagawa prefecture. 1) Participation rates in employees and non-employees were 78.3% and 33.9% respectively. In the employees whose firms do not provide health check-ups, participation rate was 15.9%. 2) Among participants, about 90% of the employees whose firms do not provide health check-ups and about 60% of non-employees utilized mass screenings provided by the local government. 3) Among non-participants, 53.7% of the employees whose firms do not provide health check-ups and 70% of the others (employees whose firms provide health check-ups and non-employees) were aware of the screening system. Most of the young did not know of the system. 4) Principal reasons for nonparticipation were "inconvenient" and "unnecessary because healthy" in job holders and "unnecessary because healthy" in non-job holders. 5) Participants had better health practices than non-participants. Participation rates of chest X-ray mass screenings were high in employees and low in non-employees. Local governments are expected to supplement the existing mass screening system at work-sites by providing accessibility screening. In tuberculosis prevention, nonparticipation in mass screenings is one of the main issues. The association between participation and health practice suggests that methods for linking with primary prevention activities are necessary for stimulating interest and promoting participation in mass screenings.


Subject(s)
Mass Chest X-Ray/statistics & numerical data , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Adult , Employment , Female , Humans , Japan , Male , Middle Aged
7.
Environ Health Prev Med ; 2(4): 145-50, 1998 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21432532

ABSTRACT

To estimate pesticide exposure faced by applicators, an investigation of exposure-absorption was conducted on two applicators under routine working conditions and using regular procedures during pesticide spraying of greenhouse strawberries with fenpropathrin. The authors hypothesized that 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) is a urinary excreted metabolite of fenpropathrin, a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide with 3-phenoxybenzyl moiety, and its determination would help to improve the assessment of fenpropathrin exposure-absorption in applicators. The extent of exposure-absorption was evaluated by the determination of urinary level of 3-PBA (biological monitoring), the amount of the chemical adhered to clothes and permeated to the skin surface, and its concentration in the air of the greenhouse. The results showed that the fenpropathrin concentration in the air was less than 0.1 µg/m(3). The amount of adhesion was less than 0.001 to 10.25 µg/cm(2), and there was very little permeation. However, the urinary 3-PBA concentration by biological monitoring appeared to be approximately twice that of pre-exposure levels in both applicators. This finding demonstrates that the applicators were exposed to fenpropathrin and absorbed it during spraying. We conclude that the fenpropathrin exposure-absorption in application could be estimated by the determination of urinary 3-PBA. This method of biological monitoring may be more useful indicator to accurately evaluate the working conditions in application.

8.
Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi ; 52(2): 490-503, 1997 Jul.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9301220

ABSTRACT

A survey on the health behavior of inhabitants without occupations, aged 60 or over who lived in city A in Kagawa prefecture (400 people), was performed. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The rates of participation in the general health checkup and the screening for colon cancer were high. In females, significant correlations were observed between the rates of participation in health examinations/screenings and age, but they were not significant in males. 2. The rates of good health practices were high in the items "Taking breakfast", "No change of body weight", "Sleeping adequately" and "Drinking moderately or no drinking". The rate of "Exercise" for males was higher than for females, and the rate of "No smoking" was lower for males than for females. For females, a correlation was observed between the score of good health practices and age, and this score decreased with age, but in males there was no significant difference. 3. The rate of participation in health education or health consultation was about 40 percent, and the rate of participation was larger for female inhabitants than for male inhabitants. 4. Persons who participated in the health examinations/screenings had more healthful practices than who did not participate. A correlation was observed between the rates of participation in health examinations/screenings and "Exercise." 5. Persons who participated in health education or health consultation had more healthful practices than who did not participate. 6. Correlations were observed between the rates of participation in health examinations/screenings and the rate of participation in the health education, or health itself. In this analyzed sample population, the health behavior of primary prevention and secondary prevention were related to each other, and the existence of common factors among health behavior for primary prevention and secondary prevention was estimated. Differences were observed between males and females concerning correlations between health behavior and age. It is thus necessary to improve health behavior via a continuous approach to the lifestyle for women. We think that good health behavior which continues over a long period of time can be instilled by approaching the lifestyle at the time of retirement for men.


Subject(s)
Aged/psychology , Health Behavior , Physical Examination/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Age Factors , Aged, 80 and over , Colonic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Japan , Male , Middle Aged , Sex Factors
13.
Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi ; 50(2): 637-51, 1995 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7630032

ABSTRACT

Two branch offices of enterprise T in the same city engaged in service and sales were selected at random for this study on the evaluation of smoking cessation education using the urine cotinine concentration (U-Cot) measured by ion pair reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (IP-R-HPLC). Branch A conducted a smoking cessation education program; branch B did not. By comparison of the results obtained from questionnaires and U-Cot analyses at both the offices, we investigated the validity of evaluation by U-Cot. The results were as follows: I. Smokers 1. At branch A, a self-reported 20-year-old female non-smoker was confirmed to smoke about 5 cigarettes per day by her high concentration (292.8) of U-Cot at pre-education. 2. At branch A, the self-reported average number of cigarettes smoked daily (ANCSD) at 6 months post-education showed a significant decrease in comparison with that at pre-education. 3. At branch A, U-Cot at post-education showed a significant decrease in comparison with those at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months pre-education in descending order. 4. Two male subjects who were strongly suspected to have submitted a false number of cigarettes smoked prior to urine sampling (NCSPU)/ANCSD self-reports at 6 months post-education were confirmed to have done so by the U-Cot values at the fourth period, which were in excess of 500, and the discrepancy between the ratio ([value at post-education in 6 months] divided by [value at pre-education]) of U-Cot (1.52, 1.47, respectively) and that of NCSPU/ANCSD, (0.00)/0.00). 5. At branch A, discrepancies between the success rate of quitting smoking in self-reported NCSPU/ANCSD at 6 months (17.0%) and in U-Cot (12.2%) were observed. At branch B, no such discrepancies were observed. 6. At branch A, office workers at 6 months post-education who had, but not those who had not, previously considered the health damage caused by smoking showed a significant decrease in NCSPU/ANCSD, and also in U-Cot at 2 weeks, 2 months and 6 months post-education. At branch B, no such differences were observed. 7. At branch A, office workers at 6 months post-education who had previously considered quitting smoking showed a significant decrease in NCSPU/ANCSD, and also in U-Cot at 2 weeks, 2 months and 6 months post-education. Those who had not previously considered quitting showed a significant decrease in ANCSD, but not in NCSPU or U-Cot.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Subject(s)
Cotinine/urine , Smoking Cessation , Adult , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Female , Health Education , Humans , Male , Self Disclosure
15.
Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi ; 41(11): 1084-9, 1994 Nov.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7873768

ABSTRACT

Chlordane concentrations were analyzed in the adipose tissue of mice after prolonged inhalation of low levels of chlordanes in indoor air. After inhalation of 4.22-11.36 micrograms/m3 chlordanes (total of 5 compounds) in air for 1-6 months, high levels of chlordanes (4.19-11.63 ppm, total of 5 compounds and 2 metabolites) were found in the adipose tissue. Transnanochlor, which accounted for only 14% of the total chlordane in the inhaled air, showed a high percentage (50%) in the adipose tissue, followed by 2 metabolites, i.e., oxychlordane (25%) and heptachlorepoxide (22%). Little transchlordane, cis-chlordane, or heptachlor, which accounted for high percentages of the total chlordane inhaled, was detected in the adipose tissue. A low level of cis-nonachlor was observed in the adipose tissue, and its percentage was similar to that in the air (2%). The level of chlordane exposure and the adipose tissue chlordane concentration was closely correlated (r = 0.9077, p < 0.01), showed a dose-effect relationship. These findings suggest that chlordanes such as trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, and heptachlorepoxide may accumulate in the adipose tissue of people living in an environment containing even low levels of chlordanes and that there is a risk from indoor air contamination by chlordanes.


Subject(s)
Adipose Tissue/chemistry , Air Pollution, Indoor , Chlordan/analysis , Environmental Exposure , Animals , Female , Mice , Mice, Inbred Strains
18.
Sangyo Igaku ; 35(5): 413-8, 1993 Sep.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8230803

ABSTRACT

Although ethylene oxide gas is widely used as a sterilizing agent for medical instruments because of its disinfection property, the effects of its use in medical settings have not been clarified. In the present study, we measured the ethylene oxide gas concentration (EOGC) within a hospital sterilization unit and in the ambient air near the unit. Before the sterilizer was turned on (about 9:00), the ambient air EOGC was below the detection limit (0.1 ppm). When the door was opened to place the instruments in the sterilizer, the maximum EOGC near the door of the sterilizer was 1.71 ppm. Before the sterilizer door was opened, the residual EOGC within the sterilizer was 0.10-24.56 ppm. During the operation of the sterilizer (9:00-17:00), ethylene oxide gas could not be detected in the air near the unit. When the sterilizer door was opened at the end of the routine operation of the sterilizer (about 17:00), EOGC near the door was 2.10-2.73 ppm. After the door was closed, the ambient air EOGC level was 0.5-0.57 ppm. These findings indicate that the personnel near the unit were exposed to ethylene oxide gas for about 15 min during the transfer. However, no ethylene gas could be detected by the ethylene oxide gas monitor (3M Co., #3551). The finding that EOGC in sterilized medical instruments after 24 h of aeration was about 2 ppm also suggests that the personnel using these instruments were exposed to ethylene oxide gas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Subject(s)
Ethylene Oxide/analysis , Occupational Health , Sterilization , Air/analysis , Environmental Monitoring , Gases , Hospital Units , Humans
20.
Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi ; 46(5): 1014-24, 1991 Dec.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-1779476

ABSTRACT

Cigarette smoke, which contains many harmful compounds, affects not only the smoker's health but also indoor air quality. To evaluate indoor air contamination by cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), we measured Cd and Pb contained in the mainstream and sidestream smoke exhaled by experimental smoking of Japanese cigarettes and also determined urinary and blood Cd and Pb levels in smokers and non-smokers and air Cd and Pb levels in smoky environments. 1. One cigarette of each of 7 Japanese brands contained about 1 microgram each of Cd and Pb, of which about 50 ng each was released to the mainstream and 250 ng of Cd and 50 ng of Pb to the sidestream by smoking. 2. The blood Cd level in the smokers was significantly higher than that in the non-smokers. The urinary Cd level in the smokers was slightly higher than that in the non-smokers. The blood Cd level was related to the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Blood and urinary Pb levels did not differ between the smokers and non-smokers, but the blood Pb level was also related to the number of cigarettes smoked daily. 3. The air Cd levels in smoky places such as the smoking car of the special express train, an office, and a pachinko parlor were markedly higher than that in outdoor air. The air Cd concentration was well correlated with the environmental tobacco smoke concentration. On the other hand, the air Pb level was slightly higher in the above smoky places than outdoors. The mean air Pb concentration was not correlated with the environmental tobacco smoke concentration but was higher at higher environmental tobacco smoke concentration in each place.


Subject(s)
Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis , Cadmium/analysis , Lead/analysis , Tobacco Smoke Pollution/analysis , Adolescent , Adult , Cadmium/blood , Cadmium/urine , Humans , Japan , Lead/blood , Lead/urine , Male , Middle Aged
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