BACKGROUND: Among the more than 300 mycotoxins that are known to have toxic effects on animals and humans, Fusarium toxins deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins (T2/HT2), and zearalenone (ZEN) are frequently detected in domestic agricultural products. This study aimed to assess DON, T2/HT2, and ZEN exposure in Japanese adults by measuring urinary mycotoxins, observing their distributions, and making comparisons with data from other countries. METHODS: A total of 201 individuals participated in the study. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected from young adults (34 men and 35 women) in the Tokai region (urban area) and spot urine samples were collected from middle-aged and elderly adults (64 men and 68 women) in the Donan area of Hokkaido Prefecture (rural area). Urinary DON, T2/HT2, and ZEN levels were measured using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. RESULTS: For DON, T2/HT2, and ZEN, the detection frequencies above the limit of detection (LOD) level (0.15, 0.13, and 0.01 µg/L, respectively) in all the samples were 53%, 26%, and 71%, respectively. The median concentrations (95^th percentile) of urinary DON, HT2, and ZEN were 0.19 (3.93), CONCLUSIONS This study represents the first comprehensive exposure assessment for DON, T2/HT2, and ZEN in Japanese adults using human biomonitoring methods. These data provide valuable information for a better understanding of mycotoxin exposure in Japan.
Humans ; Zearalenone/urine* ; Japan ; Male ; Female ; Trichothecenes/urine* ; T-2 Toxin/urine* ; Biological Monitoring ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Young Adult ; Mycotoxins/urine* ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; East Asian People

BACKGROUND: Since the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), concerns have arisen in Japan regarding the presence of radionuclides in food. Moreover, exposure levels to ⁹⁰Sr and Pu isotopes in adults and those to ¹³⁴Cs+¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and Pu (where Cs, Sr, and Pu are cesium, strontium, and plutonium, respectively) in children have not been examined. Therefore, this study employed a duplicate portion approach to examine dietary exposure levels of radionuclides in adults and children following the FDNPP accident. METHODS: The study spanned fiscal years 2012-2014 and was conducted in 10 prefectures: Hokkaido, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Kochi. The participants provided portions of their meals for two non-consecutive days and completed questionnaires on the meal items. The activity concentrations of ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and ^239+240Pu, which are targets of standard limits for radionuclides in foods in Japan, were determined according to the Radioactivity Measurement Series. The daily intake was calculated based on the radionuclide activity concentrations in the duplicate portion samples, and the committed effective doses were estimated using dose coefficients for the ingestion of each radionuclide provided by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. RESULTS: Approximately 80 duplicate samples were obtained in each fiscal year, and 242 samples were collected. The highest summed activity concentration of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs was 11 Bq/kg, which was recorded in Date City (child) in 2013; this level was approximately one-ninth of the standard limit for general foods (100 Bq/kg). The committed effective dose from annual ingestion of the sample described above was 74 µSv, approximately 14 times lower than the maximum permissible level of 1 mSv/y. Pu was not detected and the ⁹⁰Sr activity concentrations were similar to those before the FDNPP accident. CONCLUSIONS For the samples examined in the present study, the ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and ^239+240Pu dietary exposure levels were considerably lower than the regulatory levels and may not pose a health risk.
Fukushima Nuclear Accident ; Cesium Radioisotopes/analysis* ; Humans ; Japan ; Dietary Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Plutonium/analysis* ; Child ; Food Contamination, Radioactive/analysis* ; Strontium Radioisotopes/analysis* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Radiation Monitoring ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Radiation Exposure/analysis*

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the field of radiation protection is gradually becoming a key force driving industrial development. This paper focuses on the applications of AI technology in radiation monitoring, shielding design, and nuclear science data mining, and prospects its future development. Through real-time monitoring and predictive analysis, AI technology has significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of radiation monitoring, optimized the selection and configuration of shielding materials, and effectively reduced radiation exposure. Additionally, AI's data mining capabilities provide powerful tools for nuclear reactor design and optimization, promoting innovation in nuclear and radiological sciences. Despite technical challenges and ethical issues such as accuracy, data processing, and algorithmic transparency, the application prospects of AI in radiation protection remain broad. This paper emphasizes the critical role of AI technology in enhancing medical safety and efficiency, and foresees more future innovations and applications in the field of radiation protection.
Radiation Protection/methods* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Radiation Monitoring ; Humans ; Data Mining ; Algorithms

OBJECTIVE: To examine the mechanistic of organochlorine-associated changes in lung function. METHODS: This study investigated 76 healthy older adults in Jinan, Shandong Province, over a five-month period. Personal exposure to organochlorines was quantified using wearable passive samplers, while inflammatory factors and thyroid hormones were analyzed from blood samples. Participants' lung function was evaluated. After stratifying participants according to their thyroid hormone levels, we analyzed the differential effects of organochlorine exposure on lung function and inflammatory factors across the low and high thyroid hormone groups. Mediation analysis was further conducted to elucidate the relationships among organochlorine exposures, inflammatory factors, and lung function. RESULTS: Bis (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether (BCIE), was negatively associated with forced vital capacity (FVC, -2.05%, 95% CI: -3.11% to -0.97%), and associated with changes in inflammatory factors such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-8, and IL-13 in the low thyroid hormone group. The mediation analysis indicated a mediating effect of IL-2 (15.63%, 95% CI: 0.91% to 44.64%) and IL-13 (13.94%, 95% CI: 0.52% to 41.07%) in the association between BCIE exposure and FVC. CONCLUSION Lung function and inflammatory factors exhibited an increased sensitivity to organochlorine exposure at lower thyroid hormone levels, with inflammatory factors potentially mediating the adverse effects of organochlorines on lung function.
Environmental Exposure ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/metabolism* ; China ; Ethyl Ethers/metabolism* ; Environmental Monitoring ; Thyroid Hormones/blood* ; Lung/physiology* ; Inhalation Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Air Pollution/statistics & numerical data* ; Air Pollutants/metabolism* ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged

Air Pollution/analysis* ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Environmental Monitoring

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the current indoor radon level and estimate the population risk of radon-induced lung cancer in urban areas of China. METHODS: Using the passive monitoring method, a new survey on indoor radon concentrations was conducted in 2,875 dwellings across 31 provincial capital cities in Chinese mainland from 2018 to 2023. The attributable risk of lung cancer induced by indoor radon exposure was estimated based on the risk assessment model. RESULTS: The arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) of indoor radon concentrations were 65 Bq/m³ and 55 Bq/m³, respectively, with 13.6% of measured dwellings exceeding 100 Bq/m³ and 0.6% exceeding 300 Bq/m³. The estimated number of lung cancer deaths induced by indoor radon exposure was 150,795, accounting for 20.30% (95% CI: 20.21%-20.49%) of the lung cancer death toll. CONCLUSION This study provided the most recent data on national indoor radon levels in urban areas and the attributable risk of lung cancer. These results served as an important foundation for further research on the disease burden of indoor radon exposure and radon mitigation efforts.
Radon/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis* ; Lung Neoplasms/etiology* ; Humans ; Cities/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants, Radioactive/adverse effects* ; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/etiology* ; Risk Assessment ; Radiation Monitoring

Objective To reveal the spatial distribution patterns of key pollutants in the Huaihe River Basin and quantify the risks and burdens of non-gastrointestinal cancers by the grade of pollution,providing targets and data support for enhanced management of water pollution in the Huaihe River Basin. Methods Surface water quality data of the Huaihe River Basin were obtained from the National Surface Water Environmental Quality Monitoring Network(2021).Incidence data of seven cancers were extracted from the 2019 Annual Report of the China Cancer Registry.Random forest and SHapley Additive exPlanations were employed to select key pollutants,and pollution was graded based on the spatial analysis of the Huaihe River Basin.The cancer risks and population attributable fractions were calculated under pollution grades. Results Five key pollutants linked to cancers were identified,including total nitrogen,total phosphorus,chemical oxygen demand,biochemical oxygen demand after 5 days,and arsenic.Pollution was graded into three levels regarding the combined effects of pollutants.Compared with the low pollution areas,high pollution areas showed increased risks of lung cancer(RR=1.26,95%CI:1.06-1.50),breast cancer(female)(RR=1.46,95%CI:1.21-1.77),pancreatic cancer(RR=1.46,95%CI:1.06-2.01),brain cancer(RR=1.44,95%CI:1.05-1.98),and gallbladder cancer(RR=1.60,95%CI:1.03-2.50).The grade of pollution contributed to more than 5% of cases for most cancers above. Conclusions The potential cancer risks and burdens attributed to surface water pollution cannot be overlooked.Addressing this challenge necessitates close collaboration of various stakeholders to strengthen policy development,enhance environmental governance,and implement public health interventions.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Rivers/chemistry* ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Water Quality ; Environmental Monitoring ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis* ; Phosphorus/analysis* ; Spatial Analysis ; Nitrogen/analysis* ; Arsenic/analysis* ; Water Pollution/adverse effects* ; Female

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture on swallowing function and quality of life for patients with dysphagia in Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A total of 60 patients of PD with dysphagia were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off). The control group was given conventional medication therapy and rehabilitation training. On the basis of the treatment as the control group, the observation group was given acupuncture at Fengfu (GV 16), Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Yintang (GV 24⁺), Yansanzhen and bilateral Fengchi (GB 20), 30 min each time, once a day, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the Kubota water swallowing test, standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) and swallowing quality of life (SWAL-QOL) were used to evaluate the swallowing function and quality of life of the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the Kubota water swallowing test grade, SSA scores in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.001)，the SWAL-QOL scores were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.001); in the observation group，the Kubota water swallowing test grade and SSA score were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05)，the SWAL-QOL score was higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION On the basis of conventional medication therapy and rehabilitation training，acupuncture could improve the swallowing function and quality of life for patients of PD with dysphagia.
Humans ; Deglutition Disorders/therapy* ; Deglutition ; Quality of Life ; Parkinson Disease/therapy* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Water

The revision of the national standards for drinking water quality is an important, rigorous and delicate endeavor. The paper introduced the revision of this standard, emphasizing the revision principle, overall technical considerations, and revision contents. Recommendations were also proposed for the implementation of this standard.
Humans ; Drinking Water ; Water Quality ; Reference Standards ; China ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis* ; Water Supply

Perfluorinated compounds, especially Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are widely detected in water environments in China. Considering the potential health risks of drinking water exposure routes, PFOA and PFOS have been added to the water quality reference index of the newly issued "Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB5749-2022)", with limit values of 40 and 80 ng/L, respectively. This study analyzed and discussed the relevant technical contents for determining the limits of the hygiene standard, including the environmental existence level and exposure status of PFOA and PFOS, health effects, derivation of safety reference values, and determination of hygiene standard limits. It also proposed prospects for the future direction of formulating drinking water standards.
Humans ; Water Quality ; Drinking Water ; Fluorocarbons/analysis* ; Caprylates/analysis* ; China ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*