1993 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Evaluation of health effects due to volcanic hazards, Mt.Unzen, Japan
| Project/Area Number |
04670310
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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 |
Hygiene
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| Research Institution | NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
SAITO Hiroshi Nagasaki Univ.Sch.of Med., Professor, 医学部, 教授 (80004901)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
NISHIHARA Jun Nagasaki Univ.Dept.of Education, Ass.Professor, 教育学部, 助教授 (30136626)
SUMITOMO Michiyo Nagasaki Univ.Sch.of Med., Instructor, 医学部, 教務職員
IWATA Kokichi Nagasaki Univ.Sch.of Med., Senior Instructor, 医学部, 講師 (30203384)
MORIYAMA Masaki Nagasaki Univ.Sch.of Med., Ass.Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (10145229)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1992 – 1993
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| Keywords | Volcanic eruption of Mt.Unzen / Environmental risk / Structure of diseases / Community health / School health |
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| Research Abstract |
On November 3, 1990, when the Mount Unzen volcano is Shimabara city, Nagasaki Prefecture, erupted and released into the atmosphere tons of volcanic ash, authors became concerned about potential health hazards from exposure to volcanic ash. In June, 1992 and in September, 1993, authors asked a total of four thousands of school children and junior high school students in Shimabara city to fill out a questionnaire.
Major questions and issues relating to the physical health effects of the eruptions of Mt.Unzen were as follows.
-what are the acute and chronic effect of exposure to volcanic ash on the eyes?
-what are the acute and chronic effect of exposure to volcanic ash on the respiratory tracts?
-what are the acute and chronic effect of exposure to volcanic ash on the nose-ear-throat?
Eye symptoms are the most frequent, and more than half of school children and students consulted eye doctors. The prevalence of nose-ear-throat complaints was around 30 %. Respiratory tracts complaints were less frequent. Families felt uneasy about the possibility that allergic diseases in eyes, noses and respiratory tracts would appear in their in their children in future. Careful observation must be continued.
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