We're excited to share that our recent publication has been selected as the Best Paper 2024 by the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Kitasato University!
To commemorate this, Lecturer Kazutaka Takeda will be giving a special talk at the upcoming Veterinary Medicine Seminar on Wednesday, May 14 at 5:00 PM in Room A31.

📢 Seminar Info

530th Veterinary Medicine Seminar – Best Paper 2024
🗓 Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
🕔 Time: 17:00–
📍 Location: Building A, 3rd Floor, Room A31
🎤 Speaker: Dr. Kazuki Takeda (Toxicology Lab)
📝 Title:
“Is Recycling Bad for the Environment? Discovery of a Novel Toxic Compound, Benzyl 2-Naphthyl Ether, in Paper Recycling Effluent”

For details and reviewer comments, please check the official (JP).

🔬 What’s the Research About?

We often think "recycling = good for the environment"—but this study puts that idea to the test.

Using molecular docking simulations and zebrafish embryo assays, we evaluated ink-derived chemicals found in wastewater from paper recycling plants. Among them, we discovered a novel pollutant, benzyl-2-naphthyl ether, which showed both teratogenic effects and AhR (dioxin receptor) agonist activity.

This project originally began as the graduation thesis of a student from the Class of 2022 and has steadily progressed through contributions from multiple students. In this seminar, we’ll present not only the published findings but also the latest follow-up data!

👀 Who Should Join?

• Curious about toxicology or environmental chemistry?

• Wondering what kind of research undergrads can do for their thesis?

• Interested in how students publish in international journals?

• Want to know what a conference presentation is really like?

If any of these sound like you, please feel free to drop by!
Undergraduate attendees are more than welcome.

📄 About the Paper

Takeda K. et al.
Assessment of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Effects of Aromatic Sensitizers in Paper Recycling Effluent Employing Zebrafish Embryos and in Silico Docking.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2024 Oct;43(10):2176–2188
👉 Read the full article here

At the Toxicology Lab, we’re committed to connecting environmental science and life science through the fusion of structural biology and toxicology.