Article
Construction & Building Technology
Maryam Sarkhosh, Ali Asghar Najafpoor, Hosein Alidadi, Jamal Shamsara, Hanieh Amiri, Tittarelli Andrea, Fatemeh Kariminejad
Summary: The study found a high prevalence rate of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms among office workers, mostly associated with smoking, long working hours, and psychological factors. Volatile Organic Compounds and bacterial contamination were identified as the main influencing factors.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Matthias Richter, Wolfgang Horn, Elevtheria Juritsch, Andrea Klinge, Leon Radeljic, Oliver Jann
Summary: The study investigated emissions from over 30 natural building materials for interior works, finding that the majority of the materials had low emissions and met the AgBB evaluation scheme.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chunlin Zhang, Jiangyong Li, Wenlong Zhao, Qian Yao, Hao Wang, Boguang Wang
Summary: This study investigates the contribution of open biomass burning (OBB) to formaldehyde (HCHO) levels in Guangdong Province, southern China. Using satellite and model methods, the researchers estimate the emissions of HCHO and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from OBB and quantify their impact on ambient HCHO. The results show that OBB significantly influences HCHO levels in the region, especially in areas with frequent fires.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jia Qiu, Di Xie, Yatai Li, Yuekun Qu, Ying Liu, Tong Zhu, Yingjun Liu
Summary: The study identified the presence of dimethyl esters of succinic, glutaric, and adipic acids in new apartments in Beijing, China, which are rare compounds in indoor air. Despite varying concentrations, these compounds showed consistent ratios across different apartments and periods, resembling the chemical composition of dibasic esters (DBE) commonly used in the coating industry. This suggests the potential emergence of DBE as indoor air pollutants and the need for further investigation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hao Wang, Haimei Wang, Keliang Wang, Jianyin Xiong, Shaodan Huang, Jack M. Wolfson, Petros Koutrakis
Summary: This study develops a two-layer analytical model to characterize the VOC/SVOC dermal uptake process, and extends it to predict VOC emissions from two-layer building materials or furniture. The key transport parameters of chemicals in every skin or material layer are determined via a hybrid optimization method using data from experiments and literature. The association between the absorption amount of studied chemicals into blood and age is preliminarily investigated, and dermal uptake is found to contribute significantly to the total exposure of examined SVOCs.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kumar Vikrant, Ki-Hyun Kim, Eilhann E. Kwon, Danil W. Boukhvalov
Summary: The interactive hybridization of reactive adsorption and catalytic oxidation (RACO) was studied for the removal of formaldehyde. The best performer was 8%-Cu-8%-Mg/RH550, which achieved complete room-temperature mineralization of formaldehyde into carbon dioxide for up to 50 hours time-on-stream. The synergy between copper and magnesium oxides boosted the adsorption and activation of molecular oxygen, enhancing the oxidation of formaldehyde.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jialin Li, Meigen Zhang, Jinhua Tao, Xiao Han, Yongfu Xu
Summary: This study improved the estimation of reactive NMVOC emissions in the Pearl River Delta region using a combination of simulation and observation data, and found that the underestimation of emissions resulted in the differences between the simulated and observed results. The improved emission estimates also contributed to an increase in ozone concentration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kumar Vikrant, Ki-Hyun Kim, Chaozheng He, Dimitrios A. Giannakoudakis
Summary: The potential utility of a transition metal oxide/metal-organic framework nanocomposite for the removal of formaldehyde from the air has been explored. The results show that the nanocomposite with a certain loading of MnO2 exhibits high efficiency in removing formaldehyde, surpassing other well-known catalysts.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kumar Vikrant, Ki-Hyun Kim, Fan Dong, Danil W. Boukhvalov, Wonyong Choi
Summary: This study focuses on catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde into CO2 at room temperature using platinum supported by waste eggshell. The addition of potassium enhances the catalytic activity, with reaction pathways involving dioxymethylene, formate, and carbon monoxide intermediates. The research opens new possibilities for developing high-performance biowaste-derived catalysts without external energy sources.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Walaa S. E. Ismaeel, Fatma O. Alamoudy, Raghad Sameh
Summary: The study discusses the negative impact of building renovation on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and the symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). Through site inspection, lab tests, and surveys, it was found that the pollutants produced during renovation exceeded international standards, posing health risks. The survey also revealed that SBS symptoms were more severe in poorly ventilated areas. The study recommends proper planning for IAQ during all stages of building renovation.
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kumar Vikrant, Ki-Hyun Kim, Fan Dong, Philippe M. Heynderickx, Danil W. Boukhvalov
Summary: The study demonstrated that the silver-manganese dioxide bimetallic catalyst supported by eggshell waste shows promising efficiency in oxidizing formaldehyde under dark/low temperature conditions. The synergistic effects between silver and manganese enhance catalytic activities, while the eggshell catalyst outperforms commercial calcium carbonate-based catalysts due to its defects.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu Chen, Jun Shen, Weidong Wang, Li Lin, Ruixue Lv, Siqi Zhang, Junhong Ma
Summary: Demethylated lignin (DL) was prepared in a NaOH/urea solution at room temperature, and directly used to substitute phenol in the preparation of demethylated lignin phenol formaldehyde (DLPF). The reactivity of DL increased due to a decrease in benzene ring's-OCH3 content and an increase in the phenolic hydroxyl group content. The DLPF plywood had lower VOC emissions and carcinogenic risks compared to PF plywood, making it safer for indoor environments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danran Li, Shanshan Wang, Ruibin Xue, Jian Zhu, Sanbao Zhang, Zhibin Sun, Bin Zhou
Summary: This study utilized satellite remote sensing data to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of formaldehyde (HCHO) in Shanghai from 2010 to 2019, revealing the variation of HCHO in different seasons and regions. It identified temperature, biogenic and anthropogenic emissions as the main factors influencing HCHO levels. The study also found significant seasonal characteristics of O-3 formation regime in Shanghai, with higher O-3 concentration and FNRSAT values in suburban areas.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Huan Ye, Yingjun Ke, Chenyang Yue, Peng Xie, Ruilong Sheng, Lintao Zeng
Summary: Researchers have developed a sensitive fluorescent sensing platform, Nap-NH2, for the detection of formaldehyde and phosgene. The platform utilizes different emission channels to quickly and accurately detect the presence of these toxic compounds. The sensor can be integrated into portable test strips and paired with a smartphone for data recording and analysis.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Riya Alice B. John, Julakanti Shruthi, M. V. Ramana Reddy, A. Ruban Kumar
Summary: The current investigation focuses on the synthesis of surface-modified Nickel Oxide (NiO) nanoparticles with excellent sensing properties for Formaldehyde (HCHO) gases by doping with Manganese (Mn) and varying the sintering temperature. The research reveals the presence of Mn ions in the Mn-doped NiO nanostructures and the superiority of the Mn-doped NiO nanospheres sintered at 500 degrees C in terms of gas sensing performance.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrew Kataba, Shouta M. M. Nakayama, Hokuto Nakata, Haruya Toyomaki, Yared B. Yohannes, John Yabe, Kaampwe Muzandu, Golden Zyambo, Ayano Kubota, Takehisa Matsukawa, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Mayumi Ishizuka
Summary: The study found that the crown of rat incisors accumulated more lead than the root, and levels of lead in the blood were positively correlated with lead content in the incisors. In wild rats, lead accumulation in the incisor crown decreased with distance from the abandoned lead-zinc mine, and Pb-T was strongly correlated with blood lead levels. Laser ablation ICP-MS mapping revealed a homogenous distribution of lead in the incisor, with higher intensity localized in the tip of the incisor crown. These findings suggest that lead content in the crown incisor may reflect the rat's environmental habitat and serve as an indicator of lead exposure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohsen Vigeh, Masud Yunesian, Takehise Matsukawa, Mansour Shamsipour, Maryam Zare Jeddi, Noushin Rastkari, Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand, Mamak Shariat, Homa Kashani, Reihaneh Pirjani, Mohammad Effatpanah, Mahboobeh Shirazi, Ghazal Shariatpanahi, Katsumi Ohtani, Kazuhito Yokoyama
Summary: High-level toxic metal exposure has become rare in recent years, but it is still unclear whether relatively lower exposure may adversely affect the human reproductive system. The study found that, except for antimony, other toxic metals did not show a significant impact on the risk of spontaneous abortion (SA) at relatively low levels. It is recommended that women planning pregnancy and during early gestation should avoid exposure to these toxic metals to prevent adverse effects.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ryouta Torimoto, Chihiro Ishii, Hiroshi Sato, Keisuke Saito, Yukiko Watanabe, Kohei Ogasawara, Ayano Kubota, Takehisa Matsukawa, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Atsushi Kobayashi, Takashi Kimura, Shouta M. M. Nakayama, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Mayumi Ishizuka
Summary: Lead localization in organs of experimentally lead-exposed ducks and kites was investigated using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Lead accumulation was diffuse in the liver, renal cortex, and brain in both species, with differences observed in lead distribution patterns between the two avian species; copper distribution in the brain was also altered in lead-exposed ducks.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Megumi Oya, Satoru Sugimoto, Keisuke Sasai, Kazuhito Yokoyama
Summary: This study implemented 3D-CNN for CTV segmentation in whole breast irradiation, achieving DSC >= 0.85 on left, right, and both-sided breast cancer datasets with 3D-UNet. Grad-CAM heatmaps indicated the focus of 3D-UNet in decision-making, highlighting the regions from target-side breast tissue to the opposite-side breast.
RADIOLOGICAL PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hiroaki Itoh, Kouji H. Harada, Yoshio Kasuga, Shiro Yokoyama, Hiroshi Onuma, Hideki Nishimura, Ritsu Kusama, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Jing Zhu, Mariko Harada Sassa, Shoichiro Tsugane, Motoki Iwasaki
Summary: The study did not find an overall association between serum PFAS concentrations and an increased risk of breast cancer; instead, many inverse associations between serum PFAS concentrations and breast cancer risk were discovered.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Eisei Tanaka, Takehisa Matsukawa, Yasuo Kuroki, Minoru Suzuki, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Takafumi Hirata
Summary: Laser ablation-ICP-mass spectrometer (LA-ICPMS) is a principal analytical technique for mapping analysis of major to trace elements in various samples. This study demonstrates the use of a small volume cell and offset laser ablation protocol to improve spatial resolution. The combination of these techniques allows for faster washout time and smaller laser ablation areas, resulting in improved elemental imaging resolution.
ANALYTICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kazuhito Yokoyama, Akinori Nakata, Yuto Kannari, Frank Nickel, Nicole Deci, Andreas Krause, Jan Dettmers
Summary: The study found that flexible working time is associated with negative work-related consequences such as increased burnout, working hours, self-endangering work behavior, workaholism, and job demands, but also with positive factors such as improved work engagement. Path analysis revealed that burnout is caused by workaholism both directly and via self-endangering work behavior, and by low job decision latitude, and is reduced by work engagement. Similarly, poor health is caused by workaholism via self-endangering work behavior, and reduced by work engagement. Therefore, self-endangering work behavior plays a key role in the adverse health consequences of flexible working time.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Go Muto, Akinori Nakata, Dong-Uk Park, Kazuhito Yokoyama
Article
Psychiatry
Tomomi Imano, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Hiroaki Itoh, Eri Shoji, Keiko Asano
Summary: This study developed the Japanese version of the Depression Literacy Scale (D-Lit-J) and examined its validity and reliability. The results showed that the D-Lit-J demonstrated credible known-group validity, with good internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Miho Kuroda, Yuki Kawakubo, Yoko Kamio, Hidenori Yamasue, Toshiaki Kono, Maiko Nonaka, Natsumi Matsuda, Muneko Kataoka, Akio Wakabayashi, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Yukiko Kano, Hitoshi Kuwabara
Summary: Previous studies have shown the clinical effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in improving emotion regulation in children with autism. This pilot study aimed to explore the clinical utility of a group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy program in improving emotion regulation in autistic adults. The results demonstrated preliminary evidence of the efficacy of the therapy program, supporting further evaluation in larger clinical trials.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hiroaki Itoh, Kouji H. Harada, Yoshio Kasuga, Shiro Yokoyama, Hiroshi Onuma, Hideki Nishimura, Ritsu Kusama, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Jing Zhu, Mariko Harada Sassa, Teruhiko Yoshida, Shoichiro Tsugane, Motoki Iwasaki
Summary: This study investigated the association between PFASs and global DNA methylation levels in leukocytes. It found that 13 PFASs were significantly associated with increased global DNA methylation levels in leukocytes, with an increase of 1.45%-3.96% per log10-unit increase of PFAS concentration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Shuntaro Ando, Hideto Suzuki, Takehisa Matsukawa, Satoshi Usami, Hisanori Muramatsu, Tatsushige Fukunaga, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Yuji Okazaki, Atsushi Nishida
Summary: This study demonstrates that even micro-dose lithium is associated with suicide death.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Mohsen Vigeh, Leyla Sahebi, Kazuhito Yokoyama
Summary: This study suggests that increasing maternal blood lead levels could potentially reduce birth weight. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid lead exposure as much as possible.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Orthopedics
Seiya Ishii, Yasuhiro Homma, Takehisa Matsukawa, Tomonori Baba, Ayano Kubota, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Kazuo Kaneko, Muneaki Ishijima
Summary: This case study highlights the potential factors leading to stem dissociation, including the combination of a large femoral head diameter, a high risk for galvanic corrosion with cobalt-chromium head, and a low Young's modulus alloy stem. Such a combination should be avoided to prevent similar complications in total hip arthroplasty.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mohsen Vigeh, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Takehisa Matsukawa, Atsuko Shinohara, Katsumi Ohtani, Mamak Shariat
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2020)
