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A Clean, Quiet, and Healthy Atmospheric Envi ronment

Environmental Management Bureau

A Better Relationship between Motor Vehicles and the Environment
Air pollution caused by nitrogen oxides and other exhaust gas components and road traffic noise are still serious problems.
The Environment Agency is taking a variety of measures to deal with these problems.

(1) Measures for automobile exhaust gas emissions
The agency has introduced regulations on exhaust gas emissions for individual vehicles and on quality of fuels such as gasoline. An example of the achievements of these regulations is the fact that the emission of nitrogen oxides per passenger car has been reduced to 10% of 1973 levels. Still, the agency continues to toughen regulations in order to improve air quality even further.
In fiscal 1999 the Environment Agency is aiming to sharply reduce the level of toxic benzene in gasoline. In fiscal 2000 the agency is set to introduce more stringent regulations on gasoline-fueled motor vehicles.

(2) Reduction plan for total NOx emissions from automobiles
Based on the Law Concerning Special Measures for Total Emission Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides from Automobiles in Specified Areas (Automobile NOx Law), the agency is introducing special regulations to cut the large amounts of NOx emissions from trucks and buses in large urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, where heavy road traffic leads to particularly high concentrations of NOx. The agency is also taking measures to improve public transport services, rationalize routes and smooth traffic flows, and other initiatives.

(3) Promotion of mass dissemination of low-emission vehicles
The dissemination of low-emission vehicles such as electric vehicles is effec-tive not only in cutting down urban air pollution, but also as a preventive measure against global warming. For this reason, the government is working on various ways to stimulate introduction of low-emission vehicles by encouraging govern-ment ministries and agencies to take a lead in adoption of such vehicles (with the aim that by the year 2000, lO% of ordinary official vehicles are low-emission vehicles), supporting local governments in extensively introducing such vehicles, offering tax reduction; development of a new low-emission vehicles called "Luciole" and investigating other measures for popularization of such vehicles in a great number.

(4) "Idling Stop" campaign
In order to improve the environment, citizens' participation and cooperation is essential, such as using road vehicles in an appropriate manner, The agency conducting an "idling stop" campaign i.e. to stop vehicle engines' run idle, to show how simple, everyday practical measures can help to improve our atmospheric enviroument.

(5) Measures for road traffic noise
The Environment Agency has implemented stringent controls several times to reduce noise emissions by individual cars. The agency also supports local governments in promoting comprehensive measures to reduce road traffic noise levels at the local level.

Measures for Hazardous Air Pollutants
 Air pollution by sulfur dioxide, which once presented a major health problem, has largely been overcome in recent years. However, a new threat has emerged in the form of hazardous air pollutants such as benzene and dioxins, which are suspected of causing cancer and other serious ailments with long-term exposure, even at low concentrations. In response to the urgent need for control of these kinds of substance, the agency has set up environmental quality standards for benzene, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, as well as air quality guidelines for dioxins. In addition, regulations are being enforced to deal with the major emission sources for these pollutants, based on the Air Pollution Control Law. For protection against the health risks of these substances, the agency is currently gathering scientific data through air pollution monitoring and other research on these pollutants.

Maintaining a Comfortable Lifespace
(1) To solve noise and vibration problems
Each year, about 14,000 complaints about noise and 2,000 about vibration are made by citizens. Measures to deal with these complaints are being taken in line with the Noise Regulation Law and the Vibration Regulation Law.
Enhancing citizens' concern on sound environment is significant for reduction of neighborhood noise. The Environment Agency has selected "IOO Soundscapes of Japan" as a symbol to promote activities to preserve sound environment.

(2) Measures for offensive odors
Over 14,000 complaints concerning offensive odors are received each year, Based on the Offensive Odor Control Law, the agency has been regulating 22 specified offensive odor substances such as ammonia, and has introduced offensive odor index making use of a human sense for regulating offensive odor pollution.

(3) Addressing new problems
The agency has recently been working to deal with the relatively new problem of light pollution resulting from excessive artificial illumination that has adverse effects on animals, plants and human activities (e.g. observation of stars in the night sky). These measures also aim to realize energy savings by reducing artificial lighting to the necessary minimum. To achieve these objectives, the agency is formulating measurement and evaluation guidelines for light pollution, and organizing a campaign to encourage reduction in illumination intensity (Lights Down Campaign).
The agency is also working on a study to find the causes behind the problem of "heat island effects" that occurs in crowded areas such as the Tokyo metropolis, where daily temperature distributions are markedly different to those in the suburbs. In addition, the agency is studying how to improve cases of heat island effect and deciding on which parties should take the initiative in carrying out such improvements.