報告書番号

U01008

タイトル（和文）

微量物質および粒子状物質の生物影響に関する調査

タイトル（英文）

Literature review on the biological effects of trace substances and particulate matter.

概要 （図表や脚注は「報告書全文」に掲載しております）

環境中に放出される微量物質（金属、有機化合物）および粒子状物質に関する最新の規制動向・生物研究動向について文献、図書、諸機関や学協会等の情報を収集・調査し、今後の生物影響研究課題を抽出した。微量物質は発がん性を含む様々な生物作用を有している。各物質単独の毒性は解明されつつあり、内外でリスク評価の見直しや規制の改正が継続的に実施されているが、低濃度長期曝露や複合曝露影響等についての研究が必要である。一方、粒子状物質は近年諸外国で規制が強化されたことを受けて国内でも健康影響が懸念されている。粒子状物質は粒径が小さい程肺に沈着しやすく、呼吸器系、免疫系への影響が示唆されているが、粒子の物理化学的性質、含有微量物質の複合影響や作用メカニズム等未解明な点が多い。従って、今後は規制を決定する基準となっている粒径に着目し、粒径の小さい粒子に対する生物影響を動物実験により解明することが必要と考えられた。

概要 （英文）

Ambient air pollution with extremely low levels of trace metals and organic compounds and fine particulate matter (PM) are of growing regulatory concern. Health effects of these pollutants have become an important issue in the global environment. The objective of this review is to survey literature background of the biological effects caused by trace substances and PM and to find the necessity of animal experiments that can contribute to establish the environmental strategy of power industry.Criteria for trace substances are regulated by standards that govern our ambient levels. The criteria are based on an extensive database of health and welfare information. Information about cancer and noncancer health effects of each substance is relatively rich, combined effects and low dose, long-term effects, however, remains to be clarified. Public health prioritized goals should drive decisions related to the assessment, management, and communication of health risk associated with exposures to environmental agents, as well as decisions about research needs and priorities to improve and strengthen the underlying scientific knowledge base. Although epidemiological studies have shown an association between the exposure of fine PM and the rates of mortality and morbidity due to cardiopulmonary complications, the characteristics of PM (e.g., size and surface area) the causative components such as metals, acidity, and organic compounds, and the physiological mechanisms behind the associations have yet to be identified. Animal experiments therefore will be aiming at identifying major factors that affect human health. Particular concern is over the fine PM because smaller particle tends to deposit in the lung more than the larger one. Exposure to fine PM has been also suggested to affect immune system and pulmonary system by laboratory experiments in vivo.

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