Poultry outbreaks due to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza have been spreading from Southeast Asia to other countries of the world including Japan. More than 300 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza virus infection as a result of infected poultry-to-human transmission have been reported. As a recombinant or reassortant virus between avian influenza viruses (H5, H7 and H9) and human and/or swine virus capable of efficient human-to-human transmission could trigger the new influenza pandemic, the H5N1 virus is being most cautiously monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a possible new strain at present. If the patient who would have flu-like illness, recently returned from the H5N1 prevalent area and contacted poultry, rapid and accurate diagnosis of the patient is most important for health risk management. But appropriate diagnostic methods had not existed to diagnose H5N1 or human influenza virus. We developed "The Early Detection System for Avian Influenza" based on the real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR), RT-nested PCR and Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), and this system made it possible to detect and discriminate between avian and human influenza rapidly. Six cases suspected avian influenza have been examined by this system from 2005.

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Chloropropanols (3-chloro-1,2-propandiol (3-MCPD), 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP), 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol (2,3-DCP)) levels in 106 samples of seasonings and 25 samples of pickles were determined by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detector (GC/MS). The limit of quantification was 0.01mg/kg. 3-MCPD was detected from 22 samples of 106 seasonings. In particular, high level 3-MCPD of 0.1mg/kg or more was detected from some samples from Thailand and the Philippines. 2,3-DCP was detected from 2 samples that detected a high level of 3-MCPD. 3-MCPD was detected from 3 samples of 25 pickles.

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A method for the determination of denatonium benzoate, benzyldiethyl-N-2,6-xylylcarbamoylmethylammonium benzoate, abbreviated to DB, in cosmetics was developed. A cosmetic sample of 1-2 g was weighed and dissolved with methanol up to a volume of 10 mL. When a precipitate was seen, it was cleared using a high speed centrifuge. The solution was loaded on a cation exchange column, washed with methanol, and eluted by 1% HCl-MeOH 10 mL. The eluate was evaporated to dryness, dissolved by 0.1% HCl-MeOH 500 μL, and injected on an HPLC. The conditions for HPLC were as follows: column ODS, mobile phase water/acetonitrile (7:3) containing 0.01 mol/L sodium 1-pentanesulfonate and 0.015 mol/L sodium sulfate, injection volume 20 μL, detector 206 nm. The detection limit was 0.1 ppm. By this method, 1.0 to 9,000 ppm of DB were detected in five imported cosmetics without any interference. A 1.0 mL of 1.0 ppm DB water solution fully convinced us of DB's antifeeding property because of the intense bitter taste. We have rarely seen Japanese cosmetics or household articles containing DB as aversive agents to prevent accidental ingestion, but there are many and wide ranges in US or European articles.

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A qualitative method of nitrite inhalants using NMR was established. After nitrite inhalants had been diluted with the solvent, they were measured with NMR. The included nitrous acid ester was identified and confirmed from spectrum data. Moreover, a nitrous acid ester without commercial items was synthesized, and identified and confirmed from NMR and GC/MS data. iso-Propyl nitrite, iso-butyl nitrite, n-amyl nitrite, iso-amyl nitrite and 2-methylbutyl nitrite ester were identified from products on the market.

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Nonylphenol (NP) in the foods that plastic packages released 2-2800 ng/cm² of NP into n-heptane (food simulant) by migration test was analysed by GC-MS and LC-MS-MS. NP was detected 140 ng/g in one ice cream sample that release the highest NP by the migration test. The migration of NP from package to foods might be influenced by the content of NP in the package, the contact area of package and foods, and the oils and fats content in foods.

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Nonylphenol (NP) is a parameter of the water quality standard that must be examined under the drinking water law. Since NP is not a single substance, being separated into 13 isomers by the GC/MS method. To measure these isomers with a high degree of accuracy, we evaluated the analytic conditions, such as GC conditions, and extraction methods. As a result, the peaks of all isomers could be measured at a level of 0.01 ppm by the high-pressure injection method at an injection pressure of 30 psi using an HP-5 separation column. Extraction using a PLS-3 solid-phase column provided a high yield of 84-114%. We examined the NP concentration in tap and raw water samples collected from 48 sites on islands and in the Tama area, in Tokyo, and found that it was below the detection limit in all samples.

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Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is widely used as a flame retardant and detected in air at the dismantling plant, sewage sludge, sediment or human serum samples. In the present study, we examined effects of TBBPA on the liver when administered to mice for fourteen consecutive days. Crlj:CD1(ICR) male mice (7 weeks old) were given 0 (control), 350, 700 or 1400 mg/kg body weight/day TBBPA (99.1% pure) in olive oil for 14 days. Serum concentration of total-cholesterol in the high dose (1400 mg/kg BW) group was higher than that of the control group. Absolute and relative liver weights were dose-dependently increased and significantly higher in the high dose group than the control group. Histological findings showed that slight enlargement of hepatocytes, inflammatory cell infiltration and focal necrosis of hepatocytes were more marked in the liver of the treated groups than in the control group. Generally, it has been accepted that TBBPA has no critical toxicity for major organs, including the liver and kidney, in young and adult rats or mice. However, the present data indicate possible hepatotoxicity of TBBPA in ICR male mice.

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This is a pilot study to determine relationship between indoor air chemicals and a foul smell in a new building, where occupants complained of offensive odor and discomfort health effects. A standard questionnaire survey, indoor air chemical analysis and odor measurement by odor panel were conducted in this survey. In the result of the questionnaire (response rate: 59%), 78% occupants complained health effects, and the rate was higher in woman (89%) than that in man (72%). The predominantly caused symptoms in the occupants were nose, eye, throat irritation; and nausea. In the analysis of indoor air chemicals, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and butanol were detected with higher concentrations than other chemicals. In additional study, those four chemicals detected with higher levels were revealed to be emitted from an adhesive used to install vinyl sheet flooring. When the 10 rooms (zones) in the building were investigated the chemical concentrations and the odor level, the concentrations of butanol, xylene and ethylbenzene were significantly correlated with the odor level score. Considering that the concentration of indoor air butanol was higher than the value of odor threshold of it, the foul smell in the building was thought to be caused by butanol.

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A method for the determination of chlorine dioxide, chlorite ion and residual chlorine in swimming pool waters with the reagent N,N'-bis(2,4-di-sulfobenzyl)tolidine (SBT) was examined. It was assumed that the phosphate buffer solution of pH 6.3 was used to receive the obstruction of free residual chlorine when chlorine dioxide was measured using the acetate buffer solution of pH 5.0-5.6. However, the absorbance decreases rapidly when phosphoric acid solution is used. Therefore, after the reagent had added, the absorbance spectra was measured at once. If the sulfuric acid solution is added after the potassium iodine solution is added, the free residual chlorine doesn't influence the determination of chlorine dioxide. Measurements by SBT photometric method that had been developed this time since the swimming pool waters was measured were corresponding to measurements by N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) photometric method well.

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The Adoption of SAICM on February 2006 had an impact on the policy of international organizations, countries, industries, etc. The influence of the adoption of SAICM on IFCS and the prospect of the forum are reported. SAICM regional meetings at 5 regions were planned to prepare the second session of ICCM. African, EU-JUSSCANNZ and Central & East European regional meetings were held in 2006. The overview on the discussion at these regional meetings and the world movement after the adoption of SAICM are reported and the action of Japanese government for SAICM is also discussed.

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We have been studying strategic approaches for strengthening the Japanese social capacity on chemicals management and proposed in our previous article the gist of a new law concerning integrated management of chemicals by which reforming the present legal system systematically. And then, next urgent issues are to analyze the present state carefully and make clear items to be solved through the process of broad consultation with stakeholders in society and to establish an action plan. We review here the two existing consultation procedures; the public comment procedure on administrative orders and the traditional deliberative councils, and find out that these are not appropriate for effective public consultations. We point out, therefore, needs of establishing an alternative consultation procedure in order to reform the present legal system, in which the present administrative responsibilities be rearranged taking the recommendations of the OECD review on the Japanese regulatory reform programs into consideration.

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The 25th SIDS (Screening Information Data Set) Initial Assessment Meeting was held in Helsinki, Finland on 17 and18 October 2007. The initial assessment documents of 106 substances were discussed, and the results of initial assessment and the recommendation for all the substances including guanidine, N,N'-bis(2-methylphenyl)- (CAS:97-39-2) prepared by the Japanese Government were approved at the meeting. This paper reports the summary of the 25th SIDS Initial Assessment Meeting.

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