Policy / Systems / Technology

May 9, 2003

 

First Compilation of PRTR Chemical Release Data Unveiled

Keywords: Chemicals Government Policy / Systems 

Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry unveiled the first set of data regarding pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTR) on March 20, 2003, based on the country's PRTR Law.

The law mandates businesses larger than a certain size to report the quantities of 354 chemical substances released to the environment and transferred off-site in the form of waste. The database for fiscal 2001 includes reports from 34,830 businesses across the country.

The national government collects the data, compiles it by business, prefecture, and substance, and then provides it on the website. People can also request disclosure of data for a specific business premise, or buy a CD-ROM containing a complete set of nationwide data for fiscal 2001 for 1,090 yen (about U.S.$9.16).

The fiscal 2001 data show that the released pollutants amounted to about 310,000 tonnes, with toluene, xylene, and methylene chloride being the top substances reported. Of the released quantities, 89 percent went to the air, 4 percent to public waters, 0.1 percent to the soil, and 6 percent was buried at the business premises. By prefecture, Aichi topped the list for amounts released, followed by Shizuoka and Saitama.

In addition, releases from establishments that are not obliged to report, such as small businesses, households, and the transportation sector, were estimated at 585,000 tonnes. Households constituted 12 percent of the total, mostly from substances used in detergents, cosmetics, insect repellents, deodorants, adhesives, and paints.

Background on the PRTR Law--Its formal name is the "Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management." The law, promulgated in July 1999, requires businesses to register and report the quantities of chemical substances that it releases and transfers off-site. In April 2001 businesses started to estimate their releases, and reporting began in April 2002. Businesses subject to the law are in 45 categories of industry, employ 21 or more employees, and handle 1 tonne per year (5 tonnes for the first two years) or more of designated chemicals at a factory.



Posted: 2003/05/09 10:15:40 AM
Japanese version

 

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