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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Hiroshi Nitta, Chief of the Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research. National Institute for Environmental Studies Japan

Health impact assessment during the disposal process for disaster waste materials, including tsunami deposits, and a comprehensive hazard survey centered on a bio-assay.

Research grant

Project Description

In this research, times-series monitoring was developed focusing on hazard assessments using a bio-assay (a method for analyzing biological reactions using biological materials), and in addition to gaining an understanding of the health and environmental impact during the reconstruction process, support was provided for people in the affected araes for a healthy and safe recovery, through an investigation of the effects of reduction measures against exposure to chemical substances. Specifically, indoor airborne particulars and dust, along with outdoor air samples were collected over the mid-to long-term in Minamisanrikucho, Kesennuma City, and Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture. And a bio-assay executed to serve as the benchmark for pneumonia, xenobiotic and endocrinal disturbances, and carcinogenesis etc.

Grant year
FY2011 Research Grants
Grant term
2 years and 5 months
May 2011 - September 2013
Grant amount
19,438,000 yen
Activity region
Minamisanrikucho, Kesennuma City, and Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Tsunami deposit collection at Watanoha Elementary School in Ishinomaki City

Overview of the Organization

Hiroshi Nitta, Chief of the Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research. National Institute for Environmental Studies Japan
Representative
Hiroshi Nitta, Chief of the Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research. National Institute for Environmental Studies Japan
Profile
Specialist field
Environmental epidemiology, environmental health
Affiliated academic associations
Japan Epidemiological Association, The Japan Society for Hygiene, Japanese Society of Public Health, Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment, others
Background
Graduated from School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo (Doctor of Health Sciences) in 1982, and joined the National Institute of Environmental Pollution Research. In 1984 entered School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo and in 1990 The National Institute for Environmental Studies
WEB site
http://www.nies.go.jp/
Collaborating researchers
Fujio Shiraishi, Senior Fellow, Yasuyuki Shibata, Fellow, Daisuke Nakajima, Principal Research Coordinator, Eiko Koike, Head, Center for Health and Environmental Risk research (Molecular Pathology Section), Shoji Nakayama, Head, Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research(Exposure Dynamics Research Section) The National Institute for Environmental Studies
Research record
  • (1) Ueda K, H Nitta, H Odajima. (2010) The effect of weather, air pollutants, and Asian dust on hospitalization for asthma in Fukuoka., Environ Health Prev Med, 15:350-357
  • (2) Nitta, H., S. Yamazaki, et al. (2010). An Introduction to Epidemiologic and Statistical Methods Useful in Environmental Epidemiology. Journal of Epidemiology 20(3): 177-184.
  • (3) Ueda K., Nitta H,. Ono M. Effects of fine particulate matter on daily mortality for specific heart disease in Japan. Circ. J. 73: 1248-1254, 2009.
  • (4) Ueda K., Nitta H,. Ono M., Takeuchi A. Estimating mortality effects of fine particulate matter in Japan:A comparison of time-series and case-crossover analyses. J. Air & Waste Manage. Assoc. 59:1212-1218, 2009.