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[A-4.4.1 Epidemiological study on the occurrence of cataract due to ultra-violet radiation(Final Report)]

[Contact Person]

Masaji Ono
Section Chief
Environmental Health Sciences Division, National Institute
for Environmental Studies, Environmental Agency
Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan
Tel:+81-298-50-2421 Fax:+81-298-50-2421
E-mail:ono@nies.go.jp

[Total Budget for FY1993-1995]

25,207,000 Yen (FY1995; 9,408,000 Yen)

[Abstract]

　To elucidate the association between exposure to ultra-violet radiation (UV) and occurrence of cataract, we carried out long term measurements of residential UV exposure and population-based epidemiological studies on cataract.
(1) Longitudinal UV exposure measurement was carried out through out a year at 4 places in Japan, Sapporo, Tsukuba, Noto and Naha. Residential UV exposure nearly corresponded to UV irradiance level at ground in each area. And we tried to estimate residential UV exposure based on ground level UV irradiance and time spent outdoors of subject.
We established a new system for UV exposure assessment at lenses (target organ in cataract) by using mannequin head model.
(2) Population-based epidemiological studies on cataract were carried out at Hokkaido, Noto and Okinawa. We found some relationships between UV exposure and cataract prevalence. The higher percentage of nuclear cataract was seen in subjects at Okinawa (southern island in Japan).
A case-control study on glass wearing and its preventive effect on cataract formation was carried out in one survey area (Noto). Wearing glasses outdoors in any life stage showed no preventive efficacy on cortical cataract.

[Key Words]

cataract, epidemiology, exposure to ultra-violet, life style