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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]

Abstract: Black carbon (BC) aerosols alter the radiation budget both directly (by absorbing solar visible radiation) and indirectly (by acting as cloud condensation nuclei) and cause adverse health effects. The absorbing efficiency and direct radiative effect of BC strongly depend on its mass concentration (M BC) and type of emission source. In the present study, we report measurements of M BC at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), located at the center of the urban boundary of Tokyo, using an EC-OC analyzer from 2003 to 2005 and a filter-based Continuous Soot Monitoring System (COSMOS) during 2007–2010. The results indicate that M BC have decreased significantly from 2.6 μg m−3 to 0.5 μg m−3 (∼80% reduction) between 2003 and 2010. Vehicular emissions are the dominant source of BC in Tokyo, and the observed reduction in M BC is mainly attributed to the stringent regulations of particulate matter exhaust from vehicles imposed by the Japanese government. In addition, this observation is also supported from emission estimates using diurnal-weekly variations of M BC in Tokyo and explains the observed reduction to within about 20%. This is the first clear evidence of a significant reduction in BC emissions in Tokyo and shows that measures taken to reduce BC emissions from traffic sources have a strong effect on air quality in a mega-city and also reduce the climate impact of traffic emissions. We highlight the importance of long-term and reliable measurements in detecting BC trends and for the validation and regulation of emission control measures in mega-cities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]