NATIONAL PROFILE on Chemicals Management - UNITAR

iv) Chloroformv) 1,2-Dichloroethanevi) Dichloromethanevii) Tetrachloroethyleneviii) Trichloroethyleneix) 1,3-Butadienex) Benzenexi) Formaldehydexii) Trinickel disulfide and nickel sulfateNote: Dioxins were included in the first voluntary management plan. They are no longercovered by the second plan in accordance with the establishment of the Law ConcerningSpecial Measures Against Dioxins.(4) Results of activitiesAs a result of the first voluntary management plan from FY1997 to FY1999, the simplyadded amount of emissions of the 12 chemicals excluding dioxins was reduced by 41%compared to the base year (FY1995). In the same calculation, dioxin emissions werereduced by 36%.As a result of the second voluntary management plan from FY2001 to FY2003, areduction from 38,000 tons in the base year (FY1999) to 14,000 tons in FY2001 wasachieved. Furthermore, the Regional Voluntary Management Plan for Benzene has cutdown on 672 tons of benzene in FY2001 from approximately 1,045 tons of those in thebase year (FY1999). It has decreased by 64% over the base year.● Voluntary management activities by businesses regarding nonylphenolConsidering the possible effects on living organisms in the environment of nonylphenolbeing detected in the environment, the Japan Surfactant Industry Association, an associationof detergent manufacturers, has decided and publicly announced a further strengthening ofits voluntary efforts towards controlling the emission of nonylphenol-based detergents.Responding to such voluntary efforts by the manufacturers, user-side businessassociations such as the Association for Industrial-use Detergents, Japan AutochemicalIndustry Association, Japan Floor Polish Manufacturers’ Association, Japan Association ofCleaning Detergents Manufacturers, etc. have decided, between FY2001 to FY2002, toterminate the use of nonylphenol-based detergents (used in the open system) and switch toalternative products.With this framework of reducing emissions in place, a lowering of the frequency ofdetection of nonylphenol in rivers has been achieved (see Table 4-4) and furtherimprovements in the environmental situation are expected through such voluntary effortsamong industries in the future.Table 4-4Frequency of detection of nonylphenol in riversAUTUMN 1998 SUMMER 1999 AUTUMN 1999 AUTUMN 2000 AUTUMN 2001Frequency of detection of 31⁄115 20⁄115 16⁄115 14⁄115 6⁄117nonylphenol (above 0.1 µg/L) (27.0 %) (17.4 %) (13.9 %) (12.2 %) (5.1 %)Source: Study by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT).33