Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and phthalates and behavioral problems in children at preschool age: the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health

BACKGROUND@#Studies reported adverse behavioral development including internalizing and externalizing problems in association with prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates; however, findings were not sufficient due to using different assessment tools and child ages among studies. This study aimed to examine associations between maternal serum levels of BPA and phthalate metabolites and behavioral problems at preschool age.@*METHODS@#The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to assess behavioral problems at 5 years of age. BPA and phthalate metabolite levels in the first trimester maternal serum was determined by LC-MS/MS for 458 children. Variables used for adjustment were parental ages, maternal cotinine levels, family income during pregnancy, child sex, birth order, and age at SDQ completed.@*RESULTS@#The median concentrations of BPA, MnBP, MiBP, MEHP, and MECPP, primary and secondary metabolites of phthalates, were 0.062, 26.0, 7.0, 1.40, and 0.20 ng/ml, respectively. MECPP level was associated with increase conduct problem risk (OR = 2.78, 95% CI 1.36-5.68) overall and the association remained after child sex stratification, and odds ratios were increased with wider confidence interval (OR = 2.85, 95% CI 1.07-7.57 for boys, OR = 4.04, 95% CI 1.31-12.5 for girls, respectively). BPA, ∑DBP (MnBP + MiBP), and ∑DEHP (MEHP+MECPP) levels were not associated with any of the child behavioral problems.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our analyses found no significant association between BPA or summation of phthalate metabolite levels and any of the behavioral problems at 5 years of age but suggested possible association between MECPP levels and increased risk of conduct problems.

17-6Spread to medical and beauty industry of the artificial high-concentrate bicarbonate warm water in Japan, and the utility / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  Less than 0.5% of hot springs in Japan is natural carbonated hot springs.<BR>  Therefore, the spread of artificial bicarbonate (CO₂) water in Japan starts by developing the gas-permeable membrane.<BR>  There are two methods to produce artificial CO₂ water. The first is gas-permeable membrane method and the second is pressurizing stir method. Both are widespread. Because the gas-permeable membrane method is provided by stable concentration in medical treatment, generally the stirring methods spread because a price is cheap.<BR>  There is a custom of whole body bathing in Japan from old days, and the CO₂ warm water bathing has spread all over Japan in about ten years recently.<BR>  The vasodilation effect can be caused by the CO₂ in warm water of 41 degrees Celsius (approximately 1,000ppm: max saturation under conditions of atmospheric pressure), which is the temperature favored by Japanese people. This differs from the vasodilation caused by the nitric oxide (NO) by thermal, and the reason is thought to be the participation of hormone from a blood vessel endothelium such as prostaglandin E2.<BR>  When CO₂ penetrates from the epidermis and it reaches the dermis, it enhances the entering blood vessel to the capillary of the dermis.<BR>  The blood vessel is enhanced according to the concentration of CO₂.<BR>  A wide capillary increases volume flow of blood, sends the tissue oxygen and nourishment, and accentuates the renewal of the skin.<BR>  By the use of this mechanism, arteriosclerosis obliterans using the footbath and the pressure sore treatment in the medical, and cosmetics with CO₂ water are widespread in the beauty industry in Japan.<BR>  Moreover, a vasodilated vessel carries the febris easily from the warm water to the inside of the body, and raises the body temperature high early. <BR>  Body temperature increases CO₂ water 1.5 degrees Celsius, tap water 1.0 degrees Celsius by the warm water hole body bathing of 41 degrees Celsius 15 minutes from before bathing.<BR>  　This phenomenon of CO₂ warm water raises the body temperature easier than the tap water, and works as a heat stress for the human body.<BR>  It provides to increasing of the immunity (natural killer cell activities) and the heat shock protein (HSP) caused by this stress, and it consequentially enhances health promotion.<BR>  In addition, using the bulla from unstable CO₂ to clean the hair and the hair root and to improve the blood circulation of the scalp is becoming popular in Japanese hair salon.<BR>Though custom of the drinking CO₂ water has been performed in Europe from long ago, it became popular in Japan several years ago, for the appetite increase with small and for the diet with large amount. These spread as one of the dieting methods of a woman from last 2 years.<BR>  Japan is a country that can use the favor of high concentrate artificial CO₂ warm water anywhere, for the development and the widespread of the high concentrated artificial CO₂ producting apparatus.

17-6 Spread to medical and beauty industry of the artificial high-concentrate bicarbonate warm water in Japan, and the utility / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  Less than 0.5% of hot springs in Japan is natural carbonated hot springs.   Therefore, the spread of artificial bicarbonate (CO2) water in Japan starts by developing the gas-permeable membrane.   There are two methods to produce artificial CO2 water. The first is gas-permeable membrane method and the second is pressurizing stir method. Both are widespread. Because the gas-permeable membrane method is provided by stable concentration in medical treatment, generally the stirring methods spread because a price is cheap.   There is a custom of whole body bathing in Japan from old days, and the CO2 warm water bathing has spread all over Japan in about ten years recently.   The vasodilation effect can be caused by the CO2 in warm water of 41 degrees Celsius (approximately 1,000ppm: max saturation under conditions of atmospheric pressure), which is the temperature favored by Japanese people. This differs from the vasodilation caused by the nitric oxide (NO) by thermal, and the reason is thought to be the participation of hormone from a blood vessel endothelium such as prostaglandin E2.   When CO2 penetrates from the epidermis and it reaches the dermis, it enhances the entering blood vessel to the capillary of the dermis.   The blood vessel is enhanced according to the concentration of CO2.   A wide capillary increases volume flow of blood, sends the tissue oxygen and nourishment, and accentuates the renewal of the skin.   By the use of this mechanism, arteriosclerosis obliterans using the footbath and the pressure sore treatment in the medical, and cosmetics with CO2 water are widespread in the beauty industry in Japan.   Moreover, a vasodilated vessel carries the febris easily from the warm water to the inside of the body, and raises the body temperature high early.   Body temperature increases CO2 water 1.5 degrees Celsius, tap water 1.0 degrees Celsius by the warm water hole body bathing of 41 degrees Celsius 15 minutes from before bathing.   　This phenomenon of CO2 warm water raises the body temperature easier than the tap water, and works as a heat stress for the human body.   It provides to increasing of the immunity (natural killer cell activities) and the heat shock protein (HSP) caused by this stress, and it consequentially enhances health promotion.   In addition, using the bulla from unstable CO2 to clean the hair and the hair root and to improve the blood circulation of the scalp is becoming popular in Japanese hair salon. Though custom of the drinking CO2 water has been performed in Europe from long ago, it became popular in Japan several years ago, for the appetite increase with small and for the diet with large amount. These spread as one of the dieting methods of a woman from last 2 years.   Japan is a country that can use the favor of high concentrate artificial CO2 warm water anywhere, for the development and the widespread of the high concentrated artificial CO2 producting apparatus.

Expected Balneological Effects of Hot Springs in Tokyo 23 Wards / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

 Hot sprigs elements and balneological effects of Tokyo 23 wards, which is not recognized as hot spring region were considered. The density of the hot spring’s source in this region is high compared to other parts of the country. Moreover, a useful element and temperature for the balneological treatment was confirmed by the hot springs with deep digging in a lot of places.<br> The hot springs in Tokyo can be classified into the NaCl strong salt hot springs, NaHCO<SUB>3</SUB>, and the sodium metasilicates. The strong Na-Cl (salt) springs are recognized in hot springs found by deep digging, and exists everywhere in Tokyo. The hot springs of the NaHCO<SUB>3</SUB> are localized in Ohta ward by moderate depth digging. The hot springs including with the rich sodium metasilicates in Ohta ward by shallow digging.<br>If the hot springs in Tokyo are to be used the balneologically, the following effects are expected.<br> Thermal and warm keeping effects can be expected from the strong Na-Cl (salt) springs. Cleanness and smoothing effects of the skin can be expected of NaHCO<SUB>3</SUB>. Hyperkeratosis of the skin can be expected from rich sodium metasilicates.

Expected Balneological Effects of Hot Springs in Tokyo 23 Wards / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

 Hot sprigs elements and balneological effects of Tokyo 23 wards, which is not recognized as hot spring region were considered. The density of the hot spring’s source in this region is high compared to other parts of the country. Moreover, a useful element and temperature for the balneological treatment was confirmed by the hot springs with deep digging in a lot of places.  The hot springs in Tokyo can be classified into the NaCl strong salt hot springs, NaHCO3, and the sodium metasilicates. The strong Na-Cl (salt) springs are recognized in hot springs found by deep digging, and exists everywhere in Tokyo. The hot springs of the NaHCO3 are localized in Ohta ward by moderate depth digging. The hot springs including with the rich sodium metasilicates in Ohta ward by shallow digging. If the hot springs in Tokyo are to be used the balneologically, the following effects are expected.  Thermal and warm keeping effects can be expected from the strong Na-Cl (salt) springs. Cleanness and smoothing effects of the skin can be expected of NaHCO3. Hyperkeratosis of the skin can be expected from rich sodium metasilicates.