About the Corporation
Selected for the Ministry of the Environment's "Comprehensive Research on PFAS" (FY2024) - Elucidating the immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory effects of PFAS in immune diseases
Professor Yoshifumi Kuroda, Head of Department of Immunology Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine (located in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture; President: Keiichiro Suzuki), and his colleagues have been selected for the Ministry of the Environment's "Comprehensive Research on PFAS" (2024) project for their joint research with the National Institute for Environmental Studies (located in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture; Chair of the Board of Trustees: Masahide Kimoto) on "Experimental Verification to Clarify the Immunosuppressive and Immunostimulatory Effects of PFAS in Immune Diseases."
The purpose of the "Comprehensive Research on PFAS" is to extract substances (groups) that are considered to be of high priority for risk management from the many types of PFAS that exist, and to obtain knowledge to appropriately evaluate their health risks.
Business name
Ministry of the Environment, FY2024 "Comprehensive Research on PFAS"
Research Project Name
Experimental verification to clarify the immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory effects of PFAS in immune diseases
Research Summary
With the development of industry, a variety of chemicals have been produced, contributing to the improvement of our standard of living. However, various risk assessments have revealed toxic chemicals, raising concerns about their impact on health. In recent years, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a type of organic fluorine compound, have attracted attention. PFAS are chemicals found in coatings and paints, but are now subject to stricter regulations due to their toxicity and persistence. The toxicity of PFAS has attracted attention not only for its carcinogenicity but also for its immunotoxicity, with the possibility of immunosuppression, which reduces the effectiveness of vaccines, and immunostimulation, which contributes to the worsening of allergic symptoms. However, there are various issues with PFAS risk assessment.
This study aims to establish and propose a health hazard assessment method that can resolve the problems in risk assessment of PFASs that have been revealed in previous reports, as well as to elucidate the immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory effects of PFASs and their Department of Immunology mechanisms.
Research period
2024 (Reiwa 6) to 2026 (Reiwa 8)
Research organization name
Hyogo Medical University, National Institute for Environmental Studies
Principal researcher
Department of Immunology Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine
Professor Yoshifumi Kuroda