2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Health effects of local and transboundary particulate air pollution in Japan: a multi-city study
| Project/Area Number |
19K10644
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| Research Institution | Nagasaki University |
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Principal Investigator |
ウン クリス・フック・シェン 長崎大学, 熱帯医学・グローバルヘルス研究科, 准教授 (70620409)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Air Pollution / Particulate Matter / Asian Dust / Remote Sensing / Mortality |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Air pollution in East Asia is a complex mixture of transboundary sources and local emissions. In this region, long-range transport of polluted continental air massess is the prevailing transboundary source. Epidemiological evidence on the health effects of transported air particles is limited. Most studies estimated the total effect of particulate matter (PM), while a few studies focused on Asian dust from the desert. We conducted a study to estimate the short-term associations of local and transboundary PM with daily mortality in the cities of Japan. Our study focused on natural dust as the main transboundary source. We used a hybrid of ground-borne and remote-sensing derived reanalysis data as exposure information. Findings are important to inform international policies on preventing health risk associated with poor air quality.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
First, there was an unexpected slight delay in collecting data from satellite. We had to spend time to learn about the satellite product named "Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2" (MERRA2) to identify the correct data product and method to download for each study location.
Second, during literature review, we found out the indicator of Asian Dust provided by the Japan Meteorology Agency was based on visibility and should be checked against other sources of information to confirm the presence of desert dust at a given study location. We have started collecting additional information such as images from satellites for this purpose.
For these reasons, the research is slightly behind schedule.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
We are finalizing the collection of data, specifically the dust indicator data which will be confirmed using satellite images. We are also planning backward trajectory analysis to aid the identification of dust days.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The unused amount was due to COVID-19 travel restriction, where a research meeting and workshop have been cancelled. In the fiscal year 2020, the carryover amount will be for two additional research activities to support the current study. First, we plan to have one local research meeting cum workshop in Tokyo or Tsukuba City (National Institute for Environmental Studies) to discuss the preliminary results with collaborators from the Kanto region. Second, we plan to attend a local annual scientific meeting of the Japan Epidemiological Association to be held in Saga University in Saga prefecture.
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Research Products
(2 results)
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[Presentation] A review of the health impacts of Asian Dust2019
Author(s)
Hashizume Masahiro, Kim Yoonhee, Ng Chris Fook Sheng, Chung Yeonseung, Madaniyazi Lina, Bell Michelle, Guo Yue Leon, Kan Haidong, Honda Yasushi, Yi Seung-Muk, Kim Ho, Nishiwaki Yuji
Organizer
The 84th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Health and Human Ecology
