Current Issue

Current Issue

Radiation Environment and Medicine
Vol.14, No.2

Radiation Environment and Medicine Vol.14, No.2, 2025 cover
  • Publisher : Hirosaki University Press
  • Language : English
  • ISSN : (print) 2423-9097 , (online) 2432-163X
  • Release : August, 2025
  • Issue : Hirosaki University Press
  • pp. 75-117

Foreword

On the Occasion of the Publication of a New Journal
“Radiation Environment and Medicine”

I am privileged with the honor of sending my short message on the occasion of the publication by Hirosaki University Press of a new journal “Radiation Environment and Medicine”. This journal was previously published under the other title, “Radiation Emergency Medicine”, from 2012 through 2015 concurrently with the inauguration of the program to foster human resources in radiation emergency medicine that was approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan in 2010. This success is greatly indebted to the enthusiasm of the then President of Hirosaki University, Dr. Masahiko Endo, who firmly believed the necessity of establishing a stronghold on radiation emergency medicine in the northern region of Japan.

Having been launched by the Ex-President Dr. Masahiko Endo and continuously supported by the present President Dr. Kei Sato, the program has been run steadily by efforts of faculty members and students of Hirosaki University. Thereby, the publication of the journal overcame start-up problems and recently the Editorial Board discussed how to further upgrade the journal. In order to invite more submissions of papers, the Editorial Board decided to broaden the scope of the journal by incorporating “radiation environmental issues”. Thus, the journal wasrelabeled as “Radiation Environment and Medicine.”

I sincerely hope that not only domestic but also world-wide researchers in the related fields will contribute their scientific outcomes to the new journal.

Akihiro Shima, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo
Ex-Member of the External Evaluation Board of the Program

Preface

Hirosaki University has issued Radiation Emergency Medicine (REM) since 2012. An educational program for professionals in Radiation Emergency Medicine was initiated in 2010, and our prompt response to the Fukushima nuclear accident which occurred in 2011 motivated the publication of this journal. Many prestigious scientists from not only Japan, but also foreign countries have contributed to REM thus far.

In addition, the inaugural symposium was held in February 2012, with a focus on natural radiation exposures and low-dose radiation epidemiological studies (NARE2012). The symposium attracted more than 150 participants from 30 countries. Additionally, the ninth symposium in the series of international symposia on Natural Radiation Environment (NRE9), which commenced in the 1960s, was held in September 2014. A special session on the Fukushima nuclear accident was also included in the symposium. Approximately 200 participants from 35 countries attended NRE9. According to these two large symposia, many scientists in the world now recognize Hirosaki University as one of the prominent Japanese institutions, whose faculty conduct research on a wide spectrum of radiation topics.

Last August (2015), the Nuclear Regulation Authority designated Hirosaki University as having two important centers which cover radiation emergency medicine and radiation emergency medical assistance. In addition to these domestic situations, there have been recent developments worldwide in the area of natural radiation exposures and their control. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a handbook on indoor radon in 2009, and more recently the European Radon Association was formed to address the health burden due to indoor radon in Europe. It is of interest to note that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a revised version of the Basic Safety Standards (BSS), which includes protection of the public against indoor exposure to radon and other natural sources of radiation last May (2015) .

From such international circumstances, many articles concerning environmental radiation and radioactivity, including natural radiation exposure studies, have been published in Radiation Emergency Medicine. Therefore, the editorial board elected to change the journal name to Radiation Environment and Medicine as the continuation of Radiation Emergency Medicine from the publication of Volume 5. The scope of the journal now widely covers not only medical issues including radiation emergency medicine, but also environmental issues.

On behalf of the editorial board, we welcome your submission to the new REM.

Shinji Tokonami, Ph.D.
Editor-in-chief
Radiation Environment and Medicine

Articles

Report

Short-term Variations of Indoor and Outdoor Airborne Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and Radon Concentrations during the Highest Burning Season in Chiang Mai, Thailand

View article content

  • Chutima Kranrod1†, Worawat Poltabtim2†, Tarika Thumvijit2, Sompong Sriburee2, Siriprapa Somboon2, Kewalin Ruktinnakorn2, Ryohei Yamada1, Meryame Jabbade1 and Shinji Tokonami1*

  • 1Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    2Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Abstract

This study investigated radon, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations in two residences in Chiang Mai, Thailand, during the highest burning period to assess their potential impacts on public health. The selected houses represented contrasting scenarios: House 1 (H1) was associated with a reported case of lung cancer, while House 2 (H2) had no such reported history. Measurements revealed that the indoor radon concentration at H1 (52±23 Bq m-3) exceeded the global average of 40 Bq m-3, although it remained below the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 100 Bq m-3. In contrast, H2 exhibited a lower radon concentration (21±14 Bq m-3). Significantly higher concentrations of both indoor and outdoor PM2.5 and PM10 were observed at H1 compared to H2, potentially attributable to factors such as building materials, ventilation practices, and proximity to pollution sources. A strong positive correlation between PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations was observed in both houses, suggesting that these may originate from similar sources. These findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and targeted interventions to mitigate potential health risks associated with exposure to radon and airborne particulates in specific locations.

Full Text PDF
Report

Collaborative Seminar at Hirosaki University with Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH)

View article content

  • Masahiro Hosoda1, Geum-cheol Jeong2, Ki Moon Seong2, Susan Yang2, Seung Bum Lee2, Jaemin Jeong2, Minsu Cho2, Chin-I Kuo3, Po-Cheng Chen3, Chih-Chuan Lin3, Hiroyuki Hanada4, Masaru Yamaguchi1, Naoya In1, Kazuki Ohta1, Ryoko Tsuchiya1, Ryo Saga1, Shizuka Takamagi1, Shota Hosokawa1, Shingo Terashima1, Minoru Osanai1, Kasumi Mikami1, Hiromi Kudo1, Keiko Aizu1, Maiko Kitajima1, Mayumi Urushizaka1, Toshiko Tomisawa1, Donovan Anderson5, Ryohei Yamada5, Hirofumi Tazoe5, Tomisato Miura5, Naofumi Akata5, Takakiyo Tsujiguchi6, Katsuhiro Ito6, Toshiya Nakamura1, Shinji Tokonami5 and Ikuo Kashiwakura1*

  • 1Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    2National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, 75 Nowon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea
    3Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No.5, Fuxing St., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan
    4Advanced Emergency and Critical Care Center, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki University, 53 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8563, Japan
    5Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    6Education Center for Disaster and Radiation Emergency Medicine, Radiation Emergency Medicine and Cooperation Promotion, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan

Abstract

A joint seminar was held at the Graduate School of Health Sciences of Hirosaki University on 18 and 19 July 2023 with Hirosaki University (Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences and the Radiation Emergency Medicine and Cooperation Promotion), the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Science (KIRAMS) and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH), Taiwan. Hirosaki University has held six joint research seminars with KIRAMS, and this year’s seminar was held with of ficials from CGMH, the main institution in Taiwan for radiation emergency medicine. The most recent three years were online-only due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year the meeting was held face-to-face, with six participants from KIRAMS and three officials from CGMH. It was the first time in three years that we were able to hold a face-toface seminar, and the two-day event reaffirmed the importance of mutual collaboration and gave us hope that we can further expand the scope of our cooperation. This report introduces an overview of the joint seminar as well as presentations on the main themes of each of the organizations.

Full Text PDF
Presentation Abstracts

Presentation Abstracts of “The 7th Japan-Thailand Bilateral Workshop on Radiation Research and Related Issues 2024”

View article content

  • December 11–13, 2024
    Bangkok, Thailand

Full Text PDF