Seichi Horie

Estimation of the global burden of mesothelioma deaths from incomplete national mortality data

Background Mesothelioma is increasingly recognised as a global health issue and the assessment of its global burden is warranted. Objectives To descriptively analyse national mortality data and to use reported and estimated data to calculate the global burden of mesothelioma deaths. Methods For the study period of 1994 to 2014, we grouped 230 countries into 59 countries with quality mesothelioma mortality data suitable to be used for reference rates, 45 countries with poor quality data and 126 countries with no data, based on the availability of data in the WHO Mortality Database. To estimate global deaths, we extrapolated the gender-specific and age-specific mortality rates of the countries with quality data to all other countries. Results The global numbers and rates of mesothelioma deaths have increased over time. The 59 countries with quality data recorded 15 011 mesothelioma deaths per year over the 3 most recent years with available data (equivalent to 9.9 deaths per million per year). From these reference data, we extrapolated the global mesothelioma deaths to be 38 400 per year, based on extrapolations for asbestos use. Conclusions Although the validity of our extrapolation method depends on the adequate identification of quality mesothelioma data and appropriate adjustment for other variables, our estimates can be updated, refined and verified because they are based on commonly accessible data and are derived using a straightforward algorithm. Our estimates are within the range of previously reported values but higher than the most recently reported values.

Technique for continuously monitoring core body temperatures to prevent heat stress disorders in workers engaged in physical labor.

Technique for Continuously Monitoring Core Body Temperatures to Prevent Heat Stress Disorders in Workers Engaged in Physical Labor: Chikage Nagano, et al. Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine Levels among Coke-oven Workers for 2 Consecutive Days

Urinary 1‐hydroxypyrene and 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine Levels among Coke‐oven Workers for 2 Consecutive Days: Thi‐To‐Uyen NGUYEN, et al. Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan—

Improvement of Occupational Noise-induced Temporary Threshold Shift by Active Noise Control Earmuff and Bone Conduction Microphone

Improvement of Occupational Noise‐ induced Temporary Threshold Shift by Active Noise Control Earmuff and Bone Conduction Microphone: Seichi Horie. Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health—A newly devised earmuff that utilizes an active noise control system and a bone‐ conduction microphone was examined in an actual working environment where workers are required to communicate under noisy conditions. Thirteen experienced male workers aged 26 to 46 (mean ± SD; 37.5 ± 5.8) engaged in manufacturing steel pipes participated in the study. For 4 h working in a noisy environment (92 to 103 dBA), they used the conventional device (an earphone on one ear and an earplug in the other, and an ordinary microphone) or the new device. After wearing the new device, the temporary threshold shift (TTS) at 4 kHz was lowered (p<0.045, Wilcoxons sign rank test) and the number of workers who had TTS was reduced in all frequencies examined (p<0.001, two‐way repeated‐measures ANOVA). Many workers evaluated the new device superior to the conventional one especially in its “clearness of voice,” but they did not give the new device a good overall rating mainly because of its heaviness. Although the new device needs improvement, it appears promising as a hearing protector.

Suboptimal radiation protection for municipal employees operating in the Fukushima designated zone

At Fukushima, many public sector workers have experienced occupational exposure to radiation. The area around the stricken nuclear power plant comprises an emergency evacuation preparation zone (radius 30 km) with an inner no-entry zone (radius 20 km) and a planned evacuation zone (‘designated zone’ hereinafter).1 The designated zone comes under the purview of the local governments of one prefecture, four cities, six towns and three villages, with a combined workforce of about 34 000 employees2 3 (figure 1). These workers perform various functions in the designated zone, such as overseeing evacuation and temporary return of residents, accompanying searches for bodies, and surveying debris. Also working in the designated zone are employees of various ministries and emergency agencies, including defence, fire and police, and their local departments. Administrative measures to protect public servants from …

Expression of Heme Oxygenase-1 in the Lungs of Rats Exposed to Potassium Octatitanate Whiskers

Expression of Heme Oxygenase‐1 in the Lungs of Rats Exposed to Potassium Octatitanate Whiskers: Yasuko Obata, et al. Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan—

Temporary threshold shifts at 1500 and 2000 Hz induced by loud voice signals communicated through earphones in the pinball industry.

To assess the risk of hearing loss among workers using earphones as communication devices at noisy worksites, we compared temporary threshold shifts (TTS) between ears on which workers wore earphones and ears on which no earphones were worn. We measured ambient noise and personal noise exposure as well as noise generated by and passed through earphones by applying frequency analysis at three pinball facilities during their hours of actual operation. We assessed hearing levels before and after a work shift (prework and postwork) of 54 workers by pure tone audiometry at six frequencies. The time-weighted averages for ambient noise and personal noise exposure exceeded 85 dB(A) and 90 dB(A), respectively. Overall sound pressure levels generated by and passing through earphones reached 109 dB(A). The one-third octave band spectrum of the earphone noise during the shift exceeded 90 dB(SPL) in the range of 315-2000 Hz. The number of ears demonstrating a TTS, defined as a shift of 10 dB or more in postwork over prework hearing thresholds, was significantly greater at 1500 and 2000 Hz among ears with earphones (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) compared to those without. The reverse was observed at 4000 Hz for ears without earphones (P < 0.01). Workers wearing earphones or headsets as communication devices in noisy environments are exposed to high risk of hearing loss, particularly at the frequencies of 1500 and 2000 Hz. Ideally, hearing conservation programs for such workers should account for potential hearing losses at frequencies of 2000 Hz or lower frequencies induced by amplified voice signals.

Effect of Lunar Dust on Humans

We reviewed the effect of lunar dust (regolith) on humans by the combination of the hazard/exposure of regolith and microgravity of the moon. With regard to the physicochemical properties of lunar dust, the hazard-related factors are its components, fibrous materials and nanoparticles. Animal exposure studies have been performed using a simulant of lunar dust, and it was speculated that the harmful effects of the simulant lies between those of crystalline silica and titanium dioxide. Fibrous materials may not have a low solubility judging from their components. The nanoparticles in lunar dust may have harmful potentials from the view of the components. As for exposure to regolith, there is a possibility that particles larger than ones in earth (1 gravity) are respirable. In microgravity, 1) the deposition of particles of less than 1 μm in diameter in the human lung did not decrease, 2) the functions of macrophages including phagocytosis were suppressed, 3) pulmonary inflammation was changed. These data on hazard/exposure and microgravity suggest that fine and ultrafine particles in regolith may have potential hazards and risks for humans.

Occupational Exposure Limits of lead, dimethylamine, n-butyl-2,3-epoxypropyl ether, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and carcinogenicity and occupational sensitizer classification.

The Committee for Recommendation of Occupational Exposure Limits, Japan Society for Occupational Health Kenichi Azuma, Ginji Endo, Yoko Endo, Kunio Hara, Koji Harada, Hajime Hori, Seichi Horie, Hyogo Horiguchi, Masayoshi Ichiba, Gaku Ichihara, Masayuki Ikeda, Tatsuya Ishitake, Akiyoshi Ito, Satoko Iwasawa, Michihiro Kamijima, Kanae Karita, Toshio Kawai, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Akio Koizumi, Shinji Kumagai, Yukinori Kusaka, Muneyuki Miyagawa, Yasuo Morimoto, Kasuke Nagano, Tamie Nasu, Tetsuo Nomiyama, Kazuyuki Omae, Kazuhiro Sato, Hirokazu Okuda, Haruhiko Sakurai, Tomotaka Sobue, Yasushi Suwazono, Toru Takebayashi, Tatsuya Takeshita, Akito Takeuchi, Masatoshi Tanaka, Shigeru Tanaka, Teruomi Tsukahara, Masashi Tsunoda, Susumu Ueno, Yuko Yamano, Takenori Yamauchi and Eiji Yano

Earplug-Type Earphone with Built-in Microphone Improves Monosyllable Intelligibility in Noisy Environments

Received Jul 18, 2007; Accepted Dec 7, 2007 Correspondence to: T. Nakao, Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, 1–1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan (e-mail: t-nakao@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp) Earplug-Type Earphone with Built-in Microphone Improves Monosyl lable Intelligibility in Noisy Environments