Health effects of local and transboundary particulate air pollution in Japan: a multi-city study

2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10644
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• 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)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Asian Dust / Particulate Matter / Air Pollution / Remote Sensing / Mortality

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

We are conducting a study to quantify the short-term health effects of local and transboundary particulate matter (PM) on mortality. The primary source of transboundary PM is the natural dust from the desert in Northern China. We focus on PM10 (10 micrometer or smaller in diameter) but will also check PM2.5. We now have data from Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Taipei, Taichung, Seoul and Beijing city. For these cities, we have completed the work to identify dust days using NCEP/NCAR meteorological products and BSC-DREAM and NAAP-NRL aerosol maps. We have finished extracted the CAMS remote sensing data and is preparing it for analysis. We have started backward trajectory analyses HYSPLIT to refine dust identification. We have also prepared the statistical modelling framework in R language.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

We have solved the problems that have caused delay last fiscal year, namely the satelite product MERRA2 which is now replaced with CAMS, and indicator of dust days from Japan Meteorology Agency which is now based on aerosol maps. We have successfully collected all vital datasets from collaborators in East Asia, and have received reanalysed remote sensing dataset from experts in Europe. We have also made progress in statistical modeling to quantify health risk based on the work of the same European experts involved in studying sub-Saharan dust impact on health.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

We aim to complete all statistical analyses by June 2021. This will require the completion of HYSPLIT trajectory analyses, CAMS and JRAERO data manipulations by May. We plan to complete the first draft of manuscript by August 2021 and submit for peer review in the following month if there is no major revision.
We will present our findings at local conferences, for example, the annual meeting of Japan Epidemiological Association in January 2022 and the meeting of Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment in September 2021.

Causes of Carryover

The unused amount was because of cancelled research meetings and conferences as the result of COVID-19 related restriction. In the current fiscal year 2021, the amount will be planned for local conference participations (tentatively, Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment in September 2021, and Japan Epidemiological Association in January 2022). Depending on the situation, the amount will also be used for two research meetings in Kanto (National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba and University of Tokyo) and article publication fee.