Search

In this study, we aimed to use the loss of happy life expectancy (LHpLE), an indicator that enables risk assessment considering wellbeing, to compare the risks of environmental carcinogenic chemicals in Japan. First, we surveyed Japanese people to determine their emotional happiness by age and sex and evaluated whether cancer incidence reduced emotional happiness. Questionnaires were administered to a general population panel and a panel of patients with cancer in 2022, recruiting a predetermined number of responses of 5000 and 850, respectively. Second, using the survey data, LHpLE was calculated for radon, arsenic, and fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm; PM 2.5) and compared to psychological distress, considering increased mortality and decreased emotional happiness due to these risks. We discovered no significant decrease in emotional happiness due to cancer incidence and no significant associations between emotional happiness and cancer type, history, or stage. LHpLE was calculated to be 6.4 × 10−3 years for radon, 2.6 × 10−3 years for arsenic, 1.1 × 10−2 years (2012 exposure) and 8.6 × 10−4 years (2020 exposure) for PM 2.5 , and 9.7 × 10−1 years for psychological distress. The fraction of losses caused by these carcinogenic chemicals to HpLE exceeded 10−5, suggesting that risk reduction for these chemicals is important in environmental policies. The LHpLE indicator allows for comparing different types of risks, such as environmental chemicals and psychological distress. This is the first study to compare chemical risks using the LHpLE indicator. [Display omitted] • We evaluated whether cancer incidence reduced emotional happiness. • We estimated the loss of happy life expectancy for environmental chemicals. • Cancer incidence did not reduce emotional happiness. • The loss of happy life expectancy exceeded 10−4 years for radon, arsenic, and PM 2.5 • The loss of happy life expectancy was 1 year for psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising consumption and cost of fossil fuels invite the researchers to discover the renewable energy sources. Herein, a novel approach to enhance the photocatalytic performances of rutile-TiO 2 has been revealed. To boost the hydrogen generation reactions, Pd/Rb 2 O cocatalysts have been deposited over TiO 2 via chemical reduction. The morphology and optical characteristics of catalysts were demonstrated by XRD, Raman, UV-Vis/DRS, SEM and TEM analysis. Surface properties, particle sizes, and chemical composition were examined via AFM and XPS techniques. The H 2 production activities were monitored by GC-TCD (Shimadzu-2010/Japan). Comparatively, Pd 1.8 /RbO 0.2 @TiO 2 was found most active catalysts that can deliver hydrogen 22.74 mmolg−1h−1. Higher H 2 generation activities were attributed to the presence of Pd and Rb 2 O cocatalysts. Rb 2 O promoted electrons from TiO 2 to Pd active sites by elevation in fermi energy levels to attain the equilibrium during photoreactions. The mechanistic approach for higher electron transportation and better charge separation has been demonstrated and discussed over here. On the basis of results, it can be concluded that the work reported here in is reliable for sustainable energy applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]