Our society is focusing on particular mutagens which have a crucial effect on public health. In addition, we aim to spread their reference information and technology.

 The research at the JEMS includes searches for unidentified mutagenic substances in foods, water and the atmosphere, measurement of mutagenic substances in the environment, elucidation of mutagenic and carcinogenic mechanisms in humans, elucidation of differences in mutagenic susceptibility among humans or animals, investigation of the complex effects of some mutagens, genotoxicity tests of foods, medicine and chemical materials, development and modification of genotoxicity tests, and carcinogenic risk evaluation of substances. The JEMS is also contributing to governmental plans such as determining safety standards for chemical issues and establishing standard genotoxicity tests. We have a long history of these studies and many eminent achievements, which contribute to human health. The JEMS is now making further efforts thanks to our brilliant predecessors. The study field is expanding from environmental influences, and molecular mechanistic study is developing based on the success of the human genome project.

The environment of Japan is polluted by numerous kinds materials to a low degree. It is said that the natural environment of Japan is cleaner because fewer people feel a smaller influence of environmental pollution on human health. However, according to a census of the National Cancer Center Institute, the age-adjusted cancer contraction rate has been unchanged or increased since 1975 for all types of cancer, except for stomach and uterus cancers. Compared to data in 1980 and 2000, we can see that the age-adjusted contraction rate of all cancers has been increasing among males after their 60s and among females after their 40s.

Most cancers are caused by environmental factors, and the increase in the cancer contraction rate is attributed to the change in the kind and amount of substances people take into their bodies (including natural materials in food), which are due to changes of lifestyle and surroundings. This hypothesis suggests that we should discuss the process of chemical carcinogenesis considering not only gene mutations caused by only chemicals but also other potential factors.
    
It is time to think about the disturbance of gene expressions in this field. We all know that mutagenicity and teratogenicity of chemicals were common mechanisms in human beings before the recent bloom of endocrine disturbance studies on chemical ligands of arylhydrocarbon and estrogen receptors. A mammalian cell has around 50 types of nuclear receptors, and their potential ligand substances exist in the environment. As chemicals work as agonists or antagonists, they suppress or promote transcription by an intrinsic ligand and its receptor.
    
For example, two functions of tamoxifen, which binds to estrogen receptor as a ligand and makes a DNA adduct, can be explained as cancer is caused by growth stimulation of tamoxifen-mutated estrogen-responsive cells. This process can be found in the hypothesis of the initiation and promotion of carcinogenesis, which have been known well for a long time. In some cases, the effect is by a substance such as tamoxifen, and in other cases, various substances have that effect in combination.

These are limitations in this field by working only on mutagenesis. If we want to try to clarify the total biological effects of environmental chemicals, we need to develop cutting-edge methods such as an exhaustive analysis of gene expression and affiliate with other societies in our related fields. Changes in biological characteristics caused by changes in gene expression by chemicals were originally called environmental variation. So It appears that environmental mutagens as the cause of environmental variation, especially epimutagens that cause epigenetic change in gene expression, are an object to study.

 Another challenge of the JEMS is affiliating with Asian countries. The economic growth of Asian countries such as Korea, China and India, is significant, and environmental mutagen researches in such countries are expanding. The JEMS is a central member of the Asian Association of the Environmental Mutagen Society (AAEMS) and cooperates with the EMS in each Asian country to share ideas to stop the noxious effects of environmental pollution, which is now spreading rapidly in Asian countries. The JEMS official journal “Genes and Environment” is open to scientists of all countries and will be a common platform to discuss these issues.

Chapter two of JEMS bylaws says gAn objective of this society includes the promotion of basic research and distribution of related information and technology on mutagens in human, biological, and global environments, particularly for those with an important association with public health.h

What is important to get our society refocused? This subject has been frequently discussed by JEMSfs Committee for Future Planning, which is headed by the former president Takehiko Nohmi. Based on the discussions, the committee recommends the following points:

1 Extensive promotion of basic research concerning ggene-environment interactionh, which is the principal of our society.

2 Change the language of the official journal of JEMS to English and spread research outcomes in our society internationally. (The first English issue of Genes and Environment was released in February 2006 by the contribution of the chief editor, Dr. Nagao and other editors.)

3 Improve the relationship between Asian Environmental Mutagen Societies and JEMS (the First Asian Conference on Environmental Mutagens will be held from 28th to 30th November 2007 in Kitakyushu.)

It is not well understood what environmental factors are responsible for carcinogenesis in human. However, in order to reduce the risk factors of carcinogenesis, it is important to elucidate these factors one by one in relation to their carcinogenic mechanism, and to take an overview on a wide variety of carcinogenic factors. There are many subjects to be solved with the main contribution by our society, such as identification of unknown mutagens/carcinogens in diet, atmosphere, and water, elucidation of their carcinogenic mechanisms, identification of endogenous carcinogenic factors, asbestos exposure and its mechanism for carcinogenesis, safety of new chemical products, individual susceptibility for carcinogenesis, and the real risks of environmental mutagens/carcinogens for human carcinogenesis. Asian countries such as Korea and China seem to have similar problems. I hope to build an active and progressive society with a common understanding and the help of society members.