Environmental factors and human health: fibrous and particulate substance-induced immunological disorders and construction of a health-promoting living environment

Among the various scientific fields covered in the area of hygiene such as environmental medicine, epidemiology, public health and preventive medicine, we are investigating the immunological effects of fibrous and particulate substances in the environment and work surroundings, such as asbestos fibe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental health and preventive medicine 2016-03, Vol.21 (2), p.71-81
Main Authors: Otsuki, Takemi, Matsuzaki, Hidenori, Lee, Suni, Kumagai-Takei, Naoko, Yamamoto, Shoko, Hatayama, Tamayo, Yoshitome, Kei, Nishimura, Yasumitsu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asbestos
Asbestos - immunology
Asbestosis - immunology
Asbestosis - prevention & control
Cellular biology
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Health
Health Promotion
Humans
Immunology
Particulate Matter - immunology
Preventive medicine
Review
Silica
Silicon Dioxide - immunology
Silicosis - immunology
Silicosis - prevention & control
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Summary:Among the various scientific fields covered in the area of hygiene such as environmental medicine, epidemiology, public health and preventive medicine, we are investigating the immunological effects of fibrous and particulate substances in the environment and work surroundings, such as asbestos fibers and silica particles. In addition to these studies, we have attempted to construct health-promoting living conditions. Thus, in this review we will summarize our investigations regarding the (1) immunological effects of asbestos fibers, (2) immunological effects of silica particles, and (3) construction of a health-promoting living environment. This review article summarizes the 2014 Japanese Society for Hygiene (JSH) Award Lecture of the 85th Annual Meeting of the JSH entitled "Environmental health effects: immunological effects of fibrous and particulate matter and establishment of health-promoting environments" presented by the first author of this manuscript, Prof. Otsuki, Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan, the recipient of the 2014 JSH award. The results of our experiments can be summarized as follows: (1) asbestos fibers reduce anti-tumor immunity, (2) silica particles chronically activate responder and regulatory T cells causing an unbalance of these two populations of T helper cells, which may contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders frequently complicating silicosis, and (3) living conditions to enhance natural killer cell activity were developed, which may promote the prevention of cancers and diminish symptoms of virus infections.
ISSN:1342-078X
1347-4715
DOI:10.1007/s12199-015-0499-6