| Project/Area Number |
06807039
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Public health/Health science
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| Research Institution | University of Occupational and Environmental Health |
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Principal Investigator |
TAKAHASHI Ken University of Occupational & Environmental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences (Associate Professor), 産業生態科学研究所・環境疫学, 助教授 (90226829)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
OKUBO Toshiteru University of Occupational & Environmental Health, Institute of Industrial. Ecol, 産業生態科学研究所・環境疫学, 教授 (90051549)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1994 – 1995
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 1995)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000)
Fiscal Year 1995: ¥400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000)
Fiscal Year 1994: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
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| Keywords | ecological study / ultraviolet radiation / mortality / epidemiology |
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| Research Abstract |
First, a formula to estimate ground level UV-B from meteorological data was developed for the purpose of utilization in the ecological study. Estimated values were obtained from an equation incorporating global solar radiation, total ozone, latitude and month for various regional points throughout Japan corresponding to the location of weather stations with the meteorological data. Estimation was deemed valid based on the high correlation between estimated and observed values of UV-B.Second, the ecological association was assessed between estimated regional UV-B values for the past 30 years and recent mortality risks of all cancer, leukemia and lung cancer, expressed in terms of the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of the corresponding region. There was a weak but significant negative correlation (suggesting protective effect) between estimated UV-B values of the 1960 decennial period and 1983-87 SMR of all cause mortality in both men and women. In contrast, there was a weak but significant positive correlation (suggesting adverse effect) between estimated UV-B values of the 1960 decennial period and 1983-87 SMR of leukemia in both men and women. Such relationships were maintained regardless of the selection of regional points or period of estimated UV-B values only for all cancer mortality in women. The correlations were higher in magnitude and significance level than when latitude was used as a surrogate of UV-B exposure. It is thus possible that regional UV-B levels partly account for the regional differences in disease-specific morbidity or mortality in Japan. The study will further be developed taking into consideration such factors as the selection of regional points and relationship between other regional indices of disease-specific morbidity or mortality.
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