| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
SIMET Jacob L. Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies, 所長
CARAGAY Ruben F. College of Public Health, University of Philippines, 医学部, 助教授
KHAIRUDDIN Yusof Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 医学部, 教授
金 潤信 漢陽大学, 医学部, 副教授
ASAKURA Takashi Faculty of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University, 教育学部, 講師 (00183731)
HISATA Mitsuru Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 医学部, 助手 (50211503)
KAI Ichiro School of Medicine, Teikyo University, 医学部, 講師 (30126023)
MARUI Eiji International Center, University of Tokyo, 留学生センター, 教授 (30111545)
OHI Gen Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 医学部, 教授 (70114410)
SONODA Kyoichi Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 医学部, 教授 (20009898)
OHTSUKA Ryutaro Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 医学部, 助教授 (60010071)
KIM Yoon Shin Hanyang University College of Medicine
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| Research Abstract |
The present research project was designed to examine the impact of urbanization on the health status of urban populations in Asia and the South Pacific. The Todai Health Index (THI) was administered to a total of 234 pregnant women living in five capital cities, namely, Tokyo, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Port Moresby. The hair samples of these women were also collected after the administration of the THI during their visit to the hospital for the medical checkup to determine the level of mercury concentration, which reflects the environmental pollution and dietary intake mainly from fish.
Comparisons of 12 THI scale scores among the four groups (the data from Port Moresby were omitted due to a large proportion of incompleteness) revealed that the pregnant women in Manila complained more about "respiratory organs" and those in Seoul and Tokyo had more complaints about "eye and skin" than the other groups. It was also discovered that the pregnant women in Manila and Kuala Lumpur showed significantly higher score on "liescale", whereas the women in Tokyo showed significantly higher nervousness. Among the socio-demographic factors examined, age, duration of gestation, number of household members, and income level were significantly correlated with some THI scale scores in, at least, one group.
With regard to the mercury concentration in hair, the highest level was found in the Tokyo sample (Mean=3.2ug/g), followed by Kuala Lumpur and Port Moresby (Mean=1.6ug/g and 1.5ug/g, respectively), and Manila and Seoul (Mean=0.7ug/g each). It has been recognized that the major source of mercury in human body is fish and its products. Therefore the variations of the mercury level across the study groups were assumed to be derived from the variations of food consumption in each country.
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