# The science behind safety in our daily life: the open symposium of the Japanese environmental mutagen and genome society (JEMS), 2025

## TL;DR

A symposium explored how science helps manage everyday safety risks from chemicals, viruses, and natural disasters.

## Contribution

The symposium aimed to improve public understanding of safety science through expert discussions on health risks and crisis response.

## Key findings

- The symposium highlighted risks from chemical and biological agents in daily life.
- Experts discussed the impact of natural disasters on health hazards.
- The event emphasized the need for robust systems to address health crises.

## Abstract

The open symposium of the Japanese Environmental Mutagen and Genome Society (JEMS) entitled “The Science Behind Safety in Our Daily Lives,” was held as a hybrid in-person and online meeting on June 14, 2025. The rapid advancement of science and technology continues to profoundly alter our lifestyles. We face potential risks from chemical, biological, and physical agents, including chemical substances, bacteria/viruses, and radioactive substances, particularly in pharmaceuticals, food, and indoor environments. Furthermore, natural disasters such as earthquakes and heavy rains not only cause physical damage, but can also lead to health hazards from chemical substances and radiation. This underscores the urgent need for robust systems that can effectively respond to health crises. This symposium aimed to improve public understanding of safety science in daily life, including in pharmaceuticals, food, and living environments. In this symposium, we invited five scientists who are expanding the frontiers of health sciences. We organized this public event to be open to everyone, not just members of the JEMS. Herein, the organizers present a summary of the symposium.