Long-term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning at Miike coal mine: A 33-year follow-up study.

On November 9, 1963, a coal dust explosion occurred at the Miike Mikawa Coal Mine (Omuta, Kyushu Region of Japan). This resulted in a massive release of carbon monoxide (CO) gas that resulted in 458 fatalities and 839 victims of CO poisoning. After the accident, the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kumamoto University School of Medicine (including the authors) immediately began to conduct periodic medical examinations of the victims. Such a long-term follow up of so many CO-poisoned patients is globally unprecedented. When the Miike Mine was closed in March of 1997, 33 years after the disaster, we conducted the final follow-up study.

Salt intake and eating habits of school-aged children.

Salt restriction is important for the prevention and treatment of hypertension; however, salt consumption is still high in Japan. Improvements in dietary habits, including salt reduction in childhood, may contribute to the prevention of hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate the salt intake of school-aged children and the relationship between their diet diary and actual salt intake. The subjects comprised 580 schoolchildren (471 elementary school pupils and 109 junior high school pupils) who wanted to evaluate their salt intake in Kuji, a northeast coastal area in Japan. We estimated salt intake using spot urine samples and a formula. Lifestyle was assessed using a questionnaire. We also evaluated the salt intake and the lifestyles of 440 parents. The estimated salt intakes of elementary school pupils, junior high school pupils and their parents were 7.1±1.5, 7.6±1.5 and 8.0±1.7 g per day, respectively. The proportion of lower-grade children who achieved the recommended salt intake was low. In the multivariate analysis, the estimated salt intake of school-aged children correlated with their age, estimated salt intake of their parents and the menu priorities of the household. The estimated salt intake of the parents was associated with female gender, obesity, age and the habitual consumption of bread and noodles. In conclusion, the estimated salt intake of school-aged children positively correlated with the estimated salt intake of their parents, and the proportion of lower-grade children who achieved the recommended salt intake was low. Guidance on salt restriction for children and their parents may reduce the salt intake of school-aged children.