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Your Environment. Your Health.

Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences

Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Children’s Environmental Health

The Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences (CEHS) supports the advancement of environmental health research and education at the national and international levels. The WHO Collaborating Center for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards at Hokkaido CEHS aims to advance environmental health research with special focus on vulnerable populations, including children, to prevent environmental threats and diseases by:

  • Developing and sharing research methods to identify health outcomes caused by environmental exposures.
  • Developing and sharing research methods to measure exposures in the environment and biological samples.
  • Supporting training and capacity building to increase knowledge and understanding of environmental health issues, especially in areas with vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women.
  • Translating research findings into guidance documents to help protect vulnerable populations from harmful environmental exposures.
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Contacts
Reiko Kishi, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Deputy Director

rkishi@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Atsuko Araki, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences

AAraki@cehs.hokudai.ac.jp

Centre email: info@cehs.hokudai.ac.jp
Mail Address Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences
Kita 12, Nishi 7
Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan 060-0812
Website Link https://www.cehs.hokudai.ac.jp/en/
Collaborators National Institute of Public Health, Japan
National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan
Hokkaido Institute of Public Health
Sapporo Institute of Public Health
Sapporo Public Health Office
Japan International Cooperation Agency
Fukuoka Institute of Public Health
Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association
IDEA Consultants, Inc.
Chemicals/Exposures Studied Exposure assessment in biological samples: chlorinated compounds (PCB, dioxins, PCDD, PCDF), perfluorinated compounds (PFOS, PFOA and other PFAAs), chlorinated pesticides, phthalate metabolites, bisphenol A (BPA), cotinine, methyl-mercury

Exposure assessment in indoor air and dust: aldehydes, volatile organic compounds (VOC), microbial VOCs, phthalates, phosphorus flame retardants, pyrethroids, organophosphate pesticides, beta-glucan, endotoxin, and mite allergens
Health or Social Effects Studied Reduced birth size, growth, neurodevelopment, IQ, allergy, infectious diseases, imbalance of thyroid hormones and reproductive hormones
Population(s) Studied Mother-Child Paris; Homes and their residents

Publications

2015

  • Bamai Y, Araki A, Kawai T, Tsuboi T, Yoshioka E, Kanazawa A, Cong S, Kishi R. 2015. Comparisons of urinary phthalate metabolites and daily phthalate intakes among Japanese families. Int J Hyg Environ Health 218(5):461-70; doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.03.013.
  • Jia X, Harada Y, Tagawa M, Naito H, Hayashi Y, Yetti H, Kato M, Sasaki S, Araki A, Miyashita C, Ikeno T, Kishi R, Nakajima T. 2015. Prenatal maternal blood triglyceride and fatty acid levels in relation to exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate: a cross-sectional study. Environ Health Prev Med 20(3):168-178; doi: 10.1007/s12199-014-0440-4.
  • Kishi R, Nakajima T, Goudarzi H, Kobayashi S, Sasaki S, Okada E, Miyashita C, Itoh S, Araki A, Ikeno T, Iwasaki Y, Nakazawa H. 2015. The association of prenatal exposure to perfluorinated chemicals with maternal essential and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy and the birth weight of their offspring: the Hokkaido study. Environ Health Perspect; doi: 10.1289/ehp.1408834.
  • Miyashita C, Sasaki S, Saijo Y, Okada E, Kobayashi S, Baba T, Kajiwara J, Todaka T, Iwasaki Y, Nakazawa H, Hachiya N, Yasutake A, Murata K, Kishi R. 2015. Demographic, behavioral, dietary, and socioeconomic characteristics related to persistent organic pollutants and mercury levels in pregnant women in Japan. Chemosphere 133:13-21; doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.02.062.

2014

  • Ait Bamai Y, Araki A, Kawai T, Tsuboi T, Saito I, Yoshioka E, Kanazawa A, Tajima S, Shi C, Tamakoshi A, Kishi R. 2014. Associations of phthalate concentrations in floor dust and multi-surface dust with the interior materials in Japanese dwellings. Sci Total Environ 468-469:147-157; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.07.107.
  • Ait Bamai Y, Shibata E, Saito I, Araki A, Kanazawa A, Morimoto K, Nakayama K,  Tanaka M, Takigawa T, Yoshimura T, Chikara H, Saijo Y, Kishi R. 2014. Exposure to house dust phthalates in relation to asthma and allergies in both children and adults. Sci Total Environ 485-486:153-163; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.059.
  • Araki A, Mitsui T, Miyashita C, Nakajima T, Naito H, Ito S, Sasaki S, Cho K, Ikeno T, Nonomura K, Kishi R. 2014. Association between maternal exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and reproductive hormone levels in fetal blood: the Hokkaido study on environment and children's health. PLoS One 9(10): e109039; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109039.
  • Araki A, Saito I, Kanazawa A, Morimoto K, Nakayama K, Shibata E, Tanaka M, Takigawa T, Yoshimura T, Chikara H, Saijo Y, Kishi R. 2014. Phosphorus flame retardants in indoor dust and their relation to asthma and allergies of inhabitants. Indoor Air 24(1):3-15; doi: 10.1111/ina.12054.
  • Jia X, Tagawa M, Yatsuya H, Naito H, Hayashi Y, Yetti H, Sasaki S, Araki A, Miyashita C, Ikeno T, Kishi R, Nakajima T. 2014. Association of maternal whole blood fatty acid status during the prenatal period with term birth dimensions: a cross-sectional study. J Perinat Med; doi: 10.1515/jpm-2014-0277.
  • Okada E, Sasaki S, Kashino I, Matsuura H, Miyashita C, Kobayashi S, Itoh K, Ikeno T, Tamakoshi A, Kishi R. 2014. Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids and allergic diseases in early childhood. Environ Int 65:127-134; doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.01.007.

2013

  • Kishi R, Kobayashi S, Ikeno T, Araki A, Miyashita C, Itoh S, Sasaki S, Okada E, Kobayashi S, Kashino I, Itoh K, Nakajima S; Members of the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children’s Health. 2013. Ten years of progress in the Hokkaido birth cohort study on environment and children's health: cohort profile--updated 2013. Environ Health Prev Med 18(6):429-450; doi: 10.1007/s12199-013-0357-3.
  • Kobayashi S, Sata F, Sasaki S, Ban S, Miyashita C, Okada E, Limpar M, Yoshioka E, Kajiwara J, Todaka T, Saijo Y, Kishi R. 2013. Genetic association of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1) polymorphisms with dioxin blood concentrations among pregnant Japanese women. Toxicol Lett 219(3):269-278; doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2013.03.013.
  • Okada E, Kashino I, Matsuura H, Sasaki S, Miyashita C, Yamamoto J, Ikeno T, Ito YM, Matsumura T, Tamakoshi A, Kishi R. 2013. Temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl acids in plasma samples of pregnant women in Hokkaido, Japan, 2003-2011. Environ Int 60:89-96; doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.07.013.

2012

  • Araki A, Kanazawa A, Kawai T, Eitaki Y, Morimoto K, Nakayama K, Shibata E, Tanaka M, Takigawa T, Yoshimura T, Chikara H, Saijo Y, Kishi R. 2012. The relationship between exposure to microbial volatile organic compound and allergy prevalence in single-family homes. Sci Total Environ 423:18-26; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.026.
  • Araki A, Tsuboi T, Kawai T, Bamai YA, Takeda T, Yoshioka E, Kishi R. 2012. Validation of diffusive mini-samplers for aldehyde and VOC and its feasibility for measuring the exposure levels of elementary school children. J Environ Monit 14(2):368-374; doi: 10.1039/c1em10624d.
  • Okada E, Sasaki S, Saijo Y, Washino N, Miyashita C, Kobayashi S, Konishi K, Ito YM, Ito R, Nakata A, Iwasaki Y, Saito K, Nakazawa H, Kishi R. 2012. Prenatal exposure to perfluorinated chemicals and relationship with allergies and infectious diseases in infants. Environ Res 112:118-125; doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.10.003.
  • Takigawa T, Saijo Y, Morimoto K, Nakayama K, Shibata E, Tanaka M, Yoshimura T, Chikara H, Kishi R. 2012. A longitudinal study of aldehydes and volatile organic compounds associated with subjective symptoms related to sick building syndrome in new dwellings in Japan. Sci Total Environ 417-418:61-67; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.12.060.
  • Yila TA, Sasaki S, Miyashita C, Braimoh TS, Kashino I, Kobayashi S, Okada E, Baba T, Yoshioka E, Minakami H, Endo T, Sengoku K, Kishi R. 2012. Effects of maternal 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and tobacco smoking on infant birth weight in a Japanese population. J Epidemiol 22(2):91-102; doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20110039.

2011

  • Kishi R, Sasaki S, Yoshioka E, Yuasa M, Sata F, Saijo Y, Kurahashi N, Tamaki J, Endo T, Sengoku K, Nonomura K, Minakami H; Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children’s Health. 2011. Cohort profile: the Hokkaido study on environment and children’s health in Japan. Int J Epidemiol 40(3):611-618; doi: 10.1093/ije/dyq071.
  • Miyashita C, Sasaki S, Saijo Y, Washino N, Okada E, Kobayashi S, Konishi K, Kajiwara J, Todaka T, Kishi R. 2011. Effects of prenatal exposure to dioxin-like compounds on allergies and infections during infancy. Environ Res 111(4):551-558; doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.01.021.
  • Saijo Y, Kanazawa A, Araki A, Morimoto K, Nakayama K, Takigawa T, Tanaka M, Shibata E, Yoshimura T, Chikara H, Kishi R. 2011. Relationships between mite allergen levels, mold concentrations, and sick building syndrome symptoms in newly built dwellings in Japan. Indoor Air 21(3):253-263; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00698.x.

2010

  • Araki A, Kawai T, Eitaki Y, Kanazawa A, Morimoto K, Nakayama K, Shibata E, Tanaka M, Takigawa T, Yoshimura T, Chikara H, Saijo Y, Kishi R. 2010. Relationship between selected indoor volatile organic compounds, so-called microbial VOC, and the prevalence of mucous membrane symptoms in single family homes. Sci Total Environ 408(10):2208-2215; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.02.012.
  • Takigawa T, Wang BL, Saijo Y, Morimoto K, Nakayama K, Tanaka M, Shibata E, Yoshimura T, Chikara H, Ogino K, Kishi R. 2010. Relationship between indoor chemical concentrations and subjective symptoms associated with sick building syndrome in newly built houses in Japan. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 83(2):225-235; doi: 10.1007/s00420-009-0475-9.

2009

  • Kishi R, Saijo Y, Kanazawa A, Tanaka M, Yoshimura T, Chikara H, Takigawa T, Morimoto K, Nakayama K, Shibata E. 2009. Regional differences in residential environments and the association of dwellings and residential factors with the sick house syndrome: a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire study in Japan. Indoor Air 19(3):243-254; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2009.00589.x.
  • Konishi K, Sasaki S, Kato S, Ban S, Washino N, Kajiwara J, Todaka T, Hirakawa H, Hori T, Yasutake D, Kishi R. 2009. Prenatal exposure to PCDDs/PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in relation to birth weight. Environ Res 109(7):906-913; doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2009.07.010.
  • Washino N, Saijo Y, Sasaki S, Kato S, Ban S, Konishi K, Ito R, Nakata A, Iwasaki Y, Saito K, Nakazawa H, Kishi R. 2009. Correlations between prenatal exposure to perfluorinated chemicals and reduced fetal growth. Environ Health Perspect 117(4):660-667; doi: 10.1289/ehp.11681.

2008

  • Sasaki S, Sata F, Katoh S, Saijo Y, Nakajima S, Washino N, Konishi K, Ban S, Ishizuka M, Kishi R. 2008. Adverse birth outcomes associated with maternal smoking and polymorphisms in the N-Nitrosamine-metabolizing enzyme genes NQO1 and CYP2E1. Am J Epidemiol 167(6):719-726. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwm360.

2004

  • Inoue K, Okada F, Ito R, Kato S, Sasaki S, Nakajima S, Uno A, Saijo Y, Sata F, Yoshimura Y, Kishi R, Nakazawa H. 2004. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and related perfluorinated compounds in human maternal and cord blood samples: assessment of PFOS exposure in a susceptible population during pregnancy. Environ Health Perspect 112(11):1204-1207; doi: 10.1289/ehp.6864.
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