| Project/Area Number |
11470109
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B).
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Public health/Health science
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| Research Institution | Kochi Medical School |
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Principal Investigator |
KODA Shigeki Kochi Medical School, Department of Public Health, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (50205332)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
YASUDA Nobufumi Kochi Medical School, Department of Public Health, Associant Professor, 医学部, 助手 (30240899)
OHARA Hiroshi Kochi Medical School, Department of Public Health, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (00033209)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1999 – 2000
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2000)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥9,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,700,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥1,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥8,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥8,000,000)
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| Keywords | hazardous chemical substances / health effects / environmental loads / risk assessment / methyl bromide / occupational health / environmental health |
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| Research Abstract |
Since methyl bromide (CH_3Br) was listed by the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1985 s as chemical agent which might change physical and chemical characteristics of the ozone layer, it has been recognized as a common chemical toxicant threatening occupational and environmental health. In order to estimate exposure to methyl bromide (CH_3Br) during soil fumigation inside greenhouses and examine health effects in agricultural workers, an interview survey, environmental monitoring and occupational exposure to CH_3Br were conducted. An interview survey of working conditions and subjective symptoms related to exposure to CH_3Br during soil fumigation was conducted on 241 agricultural workers, and 225 agricultural workers were analyzed. The environmental monitoring during soil fumigation and occupational exposure to CH_3Br were conducted. Finally, the authors examined the exposure levels to CH_3Br after improving soil fumigation techniques.
Many agricultural workers
… More
used a large amount of CH_3Br in soil fumigation within a short time period without personal protective equipment. The odds ratio for nausea was significantly increased by fumigation with mulch. The odds ratios for irritation of the eyes, feeling sick, cough and anxieties about health were significantly increased by wearing gas masks. The odds ratios for forgetfulness and ringing in the ears were significantly increased at ages over 50 yr. The concentrations of CH_3Br in greenhouses were changed from 5,000 ppm to 1,100 ppm during soil fumigation, and occupational exposure was 57.2 ppm while opening the sheets of greenhouses and below ACGIH-TLV (1 ppm) in CH_3Br ejection, piping and planting. The agricultural workers could avoid exposure to high concentrations of CH_3Br by improving in soil fumigation techniques.
In order to analyze samples in environments, we have to develop the techniques to detect lower levels of CH_3Br. We have succeeded to lower the detect levels from one tenth to one fiftieth by using gas chromatograph (Hewlett Packard, HP-6890) with FID detection. Although methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) has been interested as one of alternative chemicals in soil fumigation, there are a few data for health effects and environmental loads of MITC.We have succeed to estimate exposure to MITC during soil fumigation, and some of workers complained subjective symptoms related to exposure to MITC (skin and respiratory symptoms). We have to esimate health effects and environmental loads related to MITC in field study. Less
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