Elucidation of environmental chemical profiles in house dust and development of health risk assessment methods using pet animals

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19975
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 63030:Chemical substance influence on environment-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: MIZUKAWA HAZUKI 愛媛大学, 農学研究科, 准教授 (60612661)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ハウスダスト / 室内環境 / リスク評価 / 殺虫剤 / 膜ろ過精製法 / 全自動同定・定量データベースシステム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on the detailed profiles of trace organic pollutants and their regional characteristics by combining target analysis of pesticides such as neonicotinoids and exhaustive screening analysis using an Automated Identification and Quantification System with a database (AIQS-DB) in house dust which is the major indoor source of exposure to chemicals.
The detailed profiles of contaminants and their regional characteristics were elucidated in house dust collected in Ehime and Hokkaido. A risk of fipronil in children was observed, and a possible risk of phthalates was noted. Health risks are also a concern in pets, which have similar activity ranges and behavior patterns as children, and basic information was obtained for elucidating chemical exposure in pets using serum and passive sampler such as collar tags, and for developing a health risk assessment method using pet animals as sentinel animals.

Free Research Field

環境化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、夾雑成分を多く含み高度な精製技術を要するハウスダストを対象に膜ろ過精キットを用いた新たな前処理方法を開発し、微量・定量分析と多成分の網羅的スクリーニング分析を組み合わせることで1008成分の化学物質の簡易迅速一斉分析法を確立した。また、ハウスダストを介した室内の微量化学物質汚染実態の解明や曝露源推定を行うとともに、リスク評価ではハウスダストの取り込みによる小児やネコに対する健康リスクも指摘した。以上より、本研究はヒトの身近な化学物質汚染として大きな社会的インパクトをもたらすだけでなく、学術的・社会的波及効果は大きいと考える。