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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

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Toyama Prefectural Environmental Science Research Center Takeshi Sasajima, Head of Water Quality

Research for establishing biomonitoring regulations for assessing marine environments

Research grant

Project Description

This research aims to prevent water pollution and conserve the water quality environment of coastal sea areas by establishing new biomonitoring regulations for assessing coastal water quality environments using mussels containing metallothionein (MT), an inductive protein that concentrates traces of heavy metals and other contaminants found in sea water, rather than the previous physiochemical water quality standards used. Current analysis methods using MT require expertise to carry out and are not labor efficient, so it will consider simpler monitoring techniques. MT induction is also triggered by factors other than heavy metals so it will consider the other factors that might affect induction such as stress or environment. It will also research field monitoring techniques at marine locations using equipment containing mussels.

Fields
Marine resources/foodPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2008 Research Grants
Grant term
1 year
April 2009 - March 2010
Grant amount
1,465,000 yen
Activity region
Toyama Prefecture, Japan
Setting up a fixed network of field monitoring devices that use Mediterranean mussels

Overview of the Organization

Takeshi Sasajima, Head of water quality
Representative
Takeshi Sasajima, Head of water quality
Profile
Specialist field
Marine environments
Affiliated academic societies
Japan Society on Water Environment, The Japanese Society of Limnology, Japanese Association of Groundwater Hydrology, Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management
Background
1978 - Graduates from Osaka University School of Engineering Science. 1979 - Water quality researcher at Toyama Prefectural Environmental Science Research Center. 1992 - Director of Toyama Prefectural Planning Department Antipollution Division. 1999 - Toyama Prefectural Lifestyle and Environmental Conservation Division's Head of Water Quality Preservation. 2002 - Deputy lead researcher at Toyama Prefectural Environmental Science Research Center. 2005 - Principal at Toyama Prefectural Environmental Policy Division. 2007 - Head of water quality at Toyama Prefectural Environmental Science Research Center.
Co-researcher
Takashi Kusui, professor, Toyama Prefectural University Faculty of Engineering; Hironori Fujishima, lead researcher, Toyama Prefectural Environmental Science Research Center
Research record
  • (1) T. Sasajima, T. Kusui, others: "Research on the bioassay of water seepage in permanent disposal sites for industrial waste. (I)" Toyama Prefectural Environmental Science Research Center Annual Report 2005 33-2 (2005)
  • (2) T. Sasajima, others: "Stabilization of Controlled Landfill of Industrial Waste (X)." Toyama Prefectural Environmental Science Research Center Annual Report 2004 32-2 (2004)
  • (3) T. Sasajima, others: "Research on reasonable methods for processing industrial waste." Toyama Prefectual Pollution Research Center Annual Report 15-20 (1987-1992)