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Environmental and Occupational Health (Hygiene) Lab
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A hygiene lab that investigates, through both experiments and fieldwork, how the environment causes disease.
AboutAbout the lab
A lab where you can choose the field that best suits you
The lab studies how the environment affects health and develops methods of prevention.
Centered on molecular biology, the lab carries out "molecular toxicology research" that analyzes the mechanisms by which the environment induces disease.
In addition to experimental medicine research using animals and cells, the lab also conducts fieldwork research, including epidemiology, so students can do research that fits their own aptitudes.
For those considering graduate school, the lab accepts inquiries at any time so that they can see the research firsthand and try part of it before deciding on a field of specialization.
Key terms
- Melanoma
- A type of skin cancer. It is studied as a disease induced by an environmental stimulus, ultraviolet light.
- Melanocyte
- A cell that produces melanin. Found in the skin and inner ear, it is being studied for its links to pigmentation, gray hair, and hearing.
- Epidemiology
- Research that studies how the environment affects health in humans, using methods such as multivariate analysis.
- ICP-MS
- An analytical instrument that measures the concentration of heavy metals in the environment. The name stands for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
NewsLab news
Lab members won the Young Researcher Excellent Presentation Award (Oral Presentation) from the Japanese Society of Hygiene and the Top Prize of the Medical Encouragement Award
Discovered that tin contained in PM2.5 may worsen Japanese cedar pollen allergy
Professor Masashi Kato received the 2024 Excellence Award in Academic Research for "Milk and Dairy Products Health Science"
Reported, jointly with Fujita Health University and DENSO, that sound stimulation may be able to relieve motion sickness
A student received the Young Researcher Excellent Presentation Award at the 95th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Hygiene
ResearchResearch themes
Environmental and occupational health is an academic field that investigates how the environment affects health and develops methods of prevention. The lab studies the mechanisms by which the environment induces disease through both experimental medicine research using animals and cells and fieldwork research conducted on site.
*Illustrative imageMelanoma and UV-induced carcinogenesis
Using a model mouse that spontaneously develops melanoma (RET-mice), the lab searches for molecules that regulate melanoma and studies how they work. It also conducts basic research that aims to clarify the mechanisms of skin cancer caused by ultraviolet light and to develop preventive methods.
*Illustrative imageMechanisms of skin spots and gray hair
Using original model mice, the lab studies how oxidative stress from ultraviolet light and aging alters melanocyte function and contributes to skin spots (melasma), vitiligo, hair loss, and gray hair. It is also developing technology to screen for drugs that are effective for prevention and treatment.
*Illustrative imageEffects of noise on the ear and nervous system
Using genetically modified mice, the lab examines how noise affects hearing and balance function through the auditory brainstem response and the rotarod test. It analyzes the mechanisms by which noise causes impairment of nervous system function, with the aim of developing preventive therapies.
*Illustrative imageSurveys of toxic element contamination in Asia
The lab conducts field surveys in Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam and measures heavy metal concentrations with ICP-MS. It investigates the health effects of heavy metals using molecular biology techniques and links the results to risk assessment and the development of preventive therapies. The lab has also succeeded in developing an inexpensive purifying agent that can adsorb toxic elements.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members include faculty, university international health volunteers, part-time lecturers, graduate students (including working-adult graduate students), technical assistants, and visiting researchers.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasashi Kato
- Associate ProfessorAkira Tazaki
- Project LecturerNaruhito Iwasaki
- Assistant ProfessorTakumi Kagawa
- Assistant ProfessorKyoka Yoshitaka
- Project Assistant ProfessorMohamed Abdelmoneim
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) - Environmental Carcinogenesis Division (ECD) (412-NHE-ECD Photos-ecd019.jpg) - DPLA - 6cc40e0a0626cde718646f4e8c9ffc60” Environmental Protection Agency. Office of the Administrator. Office of Communications, Education, and Media Relations. ( ) / Public domain (cropped)
- Melanoma and UV-induced carcinogenesis: “Hood Ultraviolet Light” Alyssa LaGrange / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Mechanisms of skin spots and gray hair: “Testing Safety of Coal-Tar Colors (FDA )” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration / Public domain (cropped)
- Effects of noise on the ear and nervous system: “Sound level meter at American football game” RandomKatze / CC0 (cropped)
- Surveys of toxic element contamination in Asia: “Jar testing equipment for testing water quality. ( )” USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Pathogenic Bacteriology Lab (Bacteriology)): “Inoculating loop and wire used in Microbiology Laboratory” Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Clinical Infection Control Lab): “Emergency eyewash station” Ashashyou / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Hematology and Oncology Lab): “FACS-toestel” Biol / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Forensic Medicine and Bioethics Lab): “Ion chromatograph in combination with a mass spectrometer, in CAFIA laboratory, Czech Republic” Sarka Na kopci / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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