Emission and Exposure Analysis Group

5 Researchers:
　Naohide Shinohara, Tomoko Oguri, Yasuyuki Zushi, Hideo Kajihara

7 Contract Employees

Outline

In order to evaluate the risk and effectiveness of countermeasures for chemical substances, nanomaterials, coronaviruses, etc., we analyze their emissions and exposures based on measurements. Major efforts include: Emission and exposure assessment of semi-volatile organic compounds, mold, mites, endotoxins, radioactive cesium, etc. in indoor air; Exposure assessment of coronavirus based on investigation of ventilation and particle behavior in indoor air and public transportation; Exposure assessment of chemical substances by analysis of house dust, food, consumer products, etc. together with biological samples (urine, blood, etc.); Exposure and risk assessment of complex mixtures by using comprehensive analysis; and Emission and exposure assessment of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofibers.

Research Highlights

Exposure Assessment in the Indoor Environment

Measurement of emission and adsorption rates of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the laboratory and actual environment to elucidate indoor behaviors of chemical substances and to improve exposure risk assessment and measurement of dermal exposure
Investigation of indoor mold, mites, endotoxins, and radioactive cesium

Measurements in Indoor Environment

Control against Coronavirus Infection (collaboration with Risk Assessment Strategy Group)

Investigation of ventilation and particle behavior in the indoor environments of buildings and public transport
Evaluation of indoor environment of public transportation vehicles for the Expo 2025 and methods for purifying the indoor air of the vehicles
Visualization and quantification of artificial droplets and droplet nuclei in indoor environments using a breath and cough simulator

Ventilation measurement in a train vehicle

Diffusion-advection test in a bus

using artificial droplet nuclei

Assessing human exposure of individuals

Development of Pharmacokinetic and Exposure Reconstruction Models for Chemical Substances

Building pharmacokinetic and exposure reconstruction models that link the concentration in biological samples from human biomonitoring and the estimated exposure amount via environmental media
Analyzing the concentrations of phthalates and other chemicals in house dust, food, consumer products, etc. for exposure assessment
Contributing to advanced exposure assessment and chemical management

Exposure and Risk Assessment for Complex Mixture

Comprehensive Analysis of Mixtures by State-of-the-Art Technology

Development of analytical methods using state-of-the-art instruments (e.g. GC × GC) to comprehensively clarify chemical composition of mixtures occurring in the environment and in commercial/industrial products

Instrument for comprehensive analysis (GC × GC)

Substances from a mixture detected by
GC × GC

Web Platform for Assessment of Mixture

Development of a web platform that allows users to access mixture data taken by state-of-the-art analytical instruments and directly assess the mixture
Development of the system to easily and thoroughly assess all of the components in a mixture detected by comprehensive analysis