Environmental factors are manifold and complicated. In order to evaluate exposure to a wide range of environmental factors, the following four approaches are employed:
1. Questionnaires
A part of each questionnaire is designated to collect information about chemical exposure, e.g. the use of organic solvents, kerosene, pesticides, disinfectants, heavy metals, antineoplastic drugs, narcotics, paints, hair dyes, and printer inks. Exposure to noise, vibration, high/low temperature, and dusts is also asked in the questionnaires.
2. Chemical analysis of bio-specimens
Chemical substances or their metabolites are measured in peripheral blood, cord blood, breast milk, urine, and hair. Target compounds are shown in Table1 .
3. Environmental measurements
In the same sub-cohort as the one described above, indoor air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aldehydes, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matters (PM2.5), will be measured during home visits. Noise levels and other physical parameters such as temperature and humidity will also be assessed.
4. Atmospheric simulation from ambient air quality monitoring
There are about 1,500 ambient air quality monitoring stations and about 500 roadside air quality monitoring stations across Japan, where levels of the five classical air pollutants, i.e., carbon monoxide (CO), suspended particulate matter (SPM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and photochemical oxidants are monitored continuously. Twenty other hazardous air pollutants are also monitored at over 300 sites. Exposure to classical and hazardous air pollutants will be estimated from the monitoring station data using atmospheric simulation models.
1. Questionnaires
A part of each questionnaire is designated to collect information about chemical exposure, e.g. the use of organic solvents, kerosene, pesticides, disinfectants, heavy metals, antineoplastic drugs, narcotics, paints, hair dyes, and printer inks. Exposure to noise, vibration, high/low temperature, and dusts is also asked in the questionnaires.
2. Chemical analysis of bio-specimens
Chemical substances or their metabolites are measured in peripheral blood, cord blood, breast milk, urine, and hair. Target compounds are shown in Table
3. Environmental measurements
In the same sub-cohort as the one described above, indoor air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aldehydes, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matters (PM2.5), will be measured during home visits. Noise levels and other physical parameters such as temperature and humidity will also be assessed.
4. Atmospheric simulation from ambient air quality monitoring
There are about 1,500 ambient air quality monitoring stations and about 500 roadside air quality monitoring stations across Japan, where levels of the five classical air pollutants, i.e., carbon monoxide (CO), suspended particulate matter (SPM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and photochemical oxidants are monitored continuously. Twenty other hazardous air pollutants are also monitored at over 300 sites. Exposure to classical and hazardous air pollutants will be estimated from the monitoring station data using atmospheric simulation models.
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