Kyoto University Links Lung Disease to PFAS Exposure

KYOTO, Apr 24 (News On Japan) - Kyoto University and its research team have revealed that several former employees of Daikin Industries developed lung diseases, potentially linked to exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of chemical compounds used in industrial manufacturing.

According to a study published on April 23rd, the team examined the blood of seven former employees who had worked at Daikin's plant in Settsu City, Osaka, where PFAS-containing products were produced. High concentrations of a PFAS subtype known as PFOA were found in five of them. Among those, three developed lung conditions involving respiratory difficulties.

The researchers highlighted that the rate of disease occurrence was about 470 times higher than that seen among the general population. All three affected individuals had been engaged in work processes involving direct exposure to PFAS-containing materials.

The team emphasized the need for broader epidemiological studies covering more current and former workers, pointing out the likelihood that many others may also have been affected. They called for companies to take responsibility by conducting thorough health impact assessments and follow-ups on employees who may have been exposed to hazardous chemicals.

While the research team plans to continue investigations to gather more comprehensive data, Daikin Industries stated that it has not yet reviewed the study in detail and therefore cannot comment on its findings.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS

Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

Tokyo’s Aging Expressway Reborn After Major Overhaul

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

New Cabinet Takes On 'Takaichi Color'

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

Hokkaido Launches Mass Culling After Bird Flu Detected

Authorities in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, have begun culling approximately 460,000 laying hens after a poultry farm in the region’s Iburi area confirmed infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza, marking the first confirmed outbreak of the season in Japan.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Hydrogen Ship to Ply Tokyo Bay Next Year

A next-generation hydrogen-powered vessel that operated during the Expo is set to expand its role beyond the event.

Lemmon Comet to Make Closest Approach to Earth on October 21st

A rare astronomical event will unfold next week as Comet Lemmon makes its closest approach to Earth on October 21st, offering skywatchers a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle that will not return for roughly 1,400 years.

Glitch Shuts Down Japan’s Weather Satellite

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that satellite images from the Himawari-9 weather satellite are currently unavailable due to a communication failure. While some functions have been restored through the backup satellite Himawari-8, key nighttime observation data such as infrared imagery remain inaccessible.

Deadly Tick-Borne Virus Detected in Tokyo Dog for First Time

Tokyo has confirmed its first case of a dog infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a potentially fatal disease transmitted by ticks. It is the first time an animal infection has been recorded in the capital.

Breakthrough in Immune Control Opens New Frontiers in Medicine

Osaka University’s Professor Shimon Sakaguchi has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering regulatory T cells that suppress excessive immune reactions, a landmark finding that has brought excitement to colleagues, students, and the medical community.

Best Online Cannabis Seeds – Sacred Seeds Australia Brings Legendary Strains to Local Collectors

Collectors and growers in Australia have long been limited by availability. Import restrictions, shifting regulations, and supply gaps have made sourcing quality seeds a challenge.

TeamLab Opens in Kyoto with Cutting-Edge Sensory Experience

TeamLab has opened a new art space, “TeamLab BioVortex Kyoto,” in Kyoto’s Minami Ward, featuring around 50 works including several unveiled in Japan for the first time. Spanning approximately 10,000 square meters, the facility offers an immersive interactive experience where light, sound, and motion respond dynamically to visitors’ movements.

Magnitude 4.9 Quake Off Fukushima, No Tsunami Warning Issued

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. on October 7th, registering a maximum intensity of 4 on the Japanese seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no risk of a tsunami caused by this tremor.

< 2 3 4 5 >