ACAP

Asia Center for Air Pollution Research

Asia Center for Air Pollution Research
Japan Environmental Sanitation Center

Introduction
In the East Asian region, environmental problems due to rapid economic growth have become more pronounced. In particular,
air pollution including acid deposition is one such serious issue that needs to be resolved urgently to improve public health andachieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to elucidate the current situation including impacts of acid deposition in
the East Asian region and organize a regional cooperative initiative on acid deposition issues, the “Acid Deposition Monitoring
Network in East Asia (EANET)” was established in April 1998 under the initiative of Japan. The EANET has been operational on aregular basis since January 2001 after two and a half years of preparatory phase activities. Currently, 13 countries in the East Asian
region are members of the EANET.
The Acid Deposition and Oxidant Research Center (ADORC) was established in Niigata, Japan in April 1998 as a branch office of
the Japan Environmental Sanitation Center (JESC). It plays a pivotal role as the Network Center and Japan’s National Center for the
Network. ADORC was founded with the support from Niigata
Prefecture, City of Niigata, manufacturing companies, and nonprofit organizations under the leadership of the Environment
Agency (which has become the Ministry of the Environment) ofJapan.
ADORC was renamed the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research(ACAP) in June 2010. With the aim to improve air quality, ACAP
continuously plays a key role in monitoring and researching air
pollution including acid deposition in East Asia as the Network
Center for the EANET and National Center of Japan. In cooperation
with international organizations, governments, local governments,
and research institutions, the ACAP conducts research activities,
international conferences, training, etc. and also disseminates data.

Organization
Name
Acronym
Establishment
No. of employees

Asia Center for Air Pollution Research, Japan Environmental Sanitation Center
ACAP
April 1998
30 (as of 1 April 2019)

Location

1182 Sowa, Nishi-ku, Niigata-shi, 950-2144, Japan

TEL/FAX

TEL: +81-25-263-0550, FAX: +81-25-263-0566
April 1998

History
June 2010‌
The
Acid Deposition and Oxidant Research Center (ADORC) was established as a branch
office of the Japan Environmental Sanitation Center ( JESC)ADORC was renamed the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP)

Organizational Chart of JESC (Head Office)Organizational Chart of ACAP
General Affairs Dept.

Head office(EANET operations)

Deputy Director General

East branch officeWest branch office

Asia Center for
Air Pollution
Research

Director General

Planning and Training Dept.
Atmospheric Research Dept.

Deputy Director General(Administration & domestic operations)

Ecological Impact Research Dept.
Data Management Dept.

ACAP

1

Major Functions
Tasks as the Network Center for the EANET●Intergovernmental Meeting
Scientific Advisory Committee
Task Force on Monitoring for Dry Deposition
Task Force on Soil and Vegetation Monitoring

●

●

●

Task Force on Monitoring instrumentation●

Task Force on Research Coordination●

Expert Group●

Secretariat for EANET(UN Environment Asia Pacific)‌Compilation,
evaluation, storage and provision ofmonitoring data.
‌Preparationof a report on the state of aciddeposition in East Asia.
‌Technical
support and training for participating
countries.
‌
Quality
Assurance and Quality Control（QA/QC）
activities.
‌Research activities.
‌
Organizationof EANET meetings and support of
the EANET Secretariat.
‌Public awareness.

Network Center for EANET(ACAP)
Network QA/QC Manager

National Focal Point

National Center

Participating Countries

National QA/QC Manager

Tasks as the National Center of Japan
Compile/analyze/manage/publicize the EANET monitoring data
Network Center for EANET(Asia Center for Air Pollution Research)
Network QA/QC Manager
Submit the data

QA/QC

●

●

●

●

‌
Compilationof transboundary air pollution andacid rain long-term monitoring plan and report.
‌
Maintenanceand management of monitoring
station and implementation of field survey.
‌Compilation,
evaluation, storage and analysis ofmonitoring data.
‌Quality
Assurance and Quality Control（QA/QC）
activities.

National Focal Point
Designate
National Center
National QA/QC Manager
Monitoring Station

Monitoring Station

Monitoring Station

Monitoring: wet deposition, dry deposition, soil and vegetation/
forest, inland aquatic environments and catchment

EANET Participating Countries

Other Tasks●●‌Management
and operation of some domestic acid deposition monitoring
stations.
‌Compilation,
evaluation and storage of domestic monitoring data other thandomestic network stations.

●‌Research activities.

●‌Participation in research meetings and international conferences.

2

ACAP



Major Achievements（Network Center and National Center of Japan）


MajorAchievements（Network
Achievements（NetworkCenter
CenterandNational
National
CenterCenterofofJapan）
Japan）Center an  Major
Major
Achievements（Network
 and
 

● Compilation, analysis/evaluation, and storage of monitoring data from 13 participating countries.

⚫ ⚫Compilation,
Compilation,
analysis/evaluation,
analysis/evaluation,
andandstoragestorageofofmonitoring
data
data
from
from
1313
participating
participating
countries.
countries.
⚫monitoring
Compilation,
analysis/evaluation,andstorage of monitoring
60 60

60 60
60

pHpH
Irkutsk
Irkutsk

Mondy
Mondy
Mondy

50 50

Rishiri
RishiriPrimorskayaPrimorskaya

Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar

40 40
ImsilImsil

Jinyunshan
Jinyunshan

30 30Kanghwa
Kanghwa

PrimorskayaPrimorskayaPrimorskaya

Haifu
Haifu

YangonYangonKhanchanaburi
Khanchanaburi
Bangkok
Bangkok

10 10

Samutprakarn
Samutprakarn
Tanah
Tanah
RataRata
Petaling
Petaling
JayaJaya

0 0Kototabang
Kototabang

JiwoziTokyo
Ijira Ijira Tokyo

Hedo
Hedo

303030

Haifu

Danum
Danum
ValleyValleyKuching
Kuching

110110

Maros
Maros

120120

JakartaJakartaJakarta

130130Kanghwa
Kanghwa
Kanghwa

RishiriOkiOkiOki

Ochiishi
Ochiishi
Ochiishi

Tappi
Tappi
Tappi
Sado-seki
Sado-seki
Sado-seki
Happo
Happo

40

Happo

Imsil
Imsil
Imsil
Tokyo
Tokyo
Ijira
Ijira Ijira Tokyo
Cheju
Cheju
Yusuhara
Cheju BanryuYusuhara
Yusuhara
BanryuBanryu30

Ogasawara
Ogasawara
Ogasawara

Mae H
Chang Phue

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202020 Mae Hia
HoaBinh
HoaBinh
Hoa
Binh
Mt.Mt.
Mt.
Sto.Sto.
Sto.
Tomas
Tomas
Tomas
YangonYangonSi Phum
Si Phum
Cuc Phuong
YangonNai
Nai
Mueang
Mueang
Sakaerat
Metro
Metro
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Sakaerat
Metro
ManilaKhanchanaburi
Khanchanaburi
Khanchanaburi
Da Nang
Patumthani
Patumthani LosLos
Patumthani
Banos
Banos
Bangkok
Bangkok
Los
Banos
Bangkok
Phnom
Phnom
Penh
Penh
Phnom
Penh
101010Ho
ChiChi
Chi
Minh
Minh
Samutprakarn
Samutprakarn
Samutprakarn HoHo
Minh
CanCanCan
ThoTho
Tho
Tanah
Tanah
RataRata
Tanah
Rata
Danum
Danum
ValleyValleyDanum
ValleyPetaling
Petaling
Jaya
Petaling
JayaJaya
Kuching0 0 0Kototabang
Kototabang
Kototabang

140140No data
No dataor rejectedor rejectedannualannualvalue
value
by theby thecriteria
criteria
< 4.5
< 4.5
4.5-4.8
4.5-4.8
4.8-5.1
4.8-5.1
5.1-5.4
5.1-5.4
5.4-5.7
5.4-5.7
5.7-6.0
5.7-6.0
6.0 6.0
< <

-10
-10
-10
909090150150

20

 

Tan
Pe
0

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Maros

Serpong
Serpong
SerpongBandung
Bandung
Bandung

100
100
100

110
110
110

120
120
120

130130130140140140-1090150150

6.0 <

No
com

 

Distribution
Distribution
ofof
sulphursulphurdioxidedioxide
(SO
(SO
2) 2)
2) 2016）
Distributionof sulphur pH（asdioxide (SOofDistributionof precipitation
concentrationin ambient
air
（as
ofof
2016）
concentration
concentration
in inambient
ambient
air（
air（
asas
of
2016
2016
））

 

Yango

KhanchanaBa
10S

No data or rejected
No annualdata
No data
or value
Annualor Annual
bydatathedata< 0.5
0.5-1.5
0.5-1.5
1.5-2.5
1.5-2.5
2.5-3.5
2.5-3.53.5<
3.5<
(ppb)
(ppb)
completenesscompleteness< 70%< 70%<<0.5
criteria
4.5
4.5-4.8
4.8-5.1
5.1-5.4
5.4-5.7
5.7-6.0

Distribution
Distribution
ofof
precipitation
precipitation
pH（as
pH（as
ofof
2016）
2016）
Distribution of precipitation pH（as of 2016）●

Jinyunshan
Jinyunshan
Jinyunshan

Serpong
Serpong Bandung
Bandung

100100Shizhan

Rishiri
Rishiri

Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi
Hedo
Hedo
Hedo
Xiaoping
YenBai
YenBai
Yen
Bai
MaeMaeHia Hia
Haibin-ParkHongwen
Vientiane
Vientiane Haibin-Park
Vientiane
XiangZhou
Hongwen
HongwenChang
Chang
PhueakPhueakOgasawara
Ogasawara

Zhuxiandong
Zhuxiandong
HoaHoaBinhBinh
Mt. Mt.
Sto.Sto.
Tomas
Tomas
Cuc Cuc
PhuongPhuong
Sakaerat
Sakaerat
Metro
Metro
ManilaManilaDa Nang
Da Nang
Patumthani
Patumthani
Los Los
Banos
Banos
Phnom
Phnom
PenhPenh
Ho ChiHo ChiMinh
Minh
Can CanThoThoJakartaJakarta-10-10
90 90

Happo
Happo

Cheju
Cheju
Yusuhara
BanryuBanryuYusuhara

Hanoi
Hanoi
Xiaoping
Xiaoping
Yen YenBai Bai
Vientiane
Vientiane
XiangZhou
XiangZhou Hongwen
HongwenHia Hia
20 20 MaeMae

404040

Sado-seki
Sado-sekiOki Oki50

TereljTereljTereljOchiishi
Ochiishi

Tappi
Tappi

JiwoziJiwozi

Listvyanka
Listvyanka
Listvyanka

50 50
50

TereljTereljUlaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar

ShizhanShizhanS

Irkutsk
Irkutsk
Irkutsk

Listvyanka
Listvyanka

Mondy
Mondy

60

SO
2 2
pHSO

D
conc


‌Provision of technical support for EANET meetings, such
as Intergovernmental Meeting, Scientific Advisory⚫Provision
Provisionofoftechnicaltechnical
supportfor
forEANET
EANET
meetings,
meetings,
suchasasIntergovernmental
Intergovernmental
Meeting,
Meeting,
Scientific
Scientific
Working
Group support
Meeting,
etc.,
andorganizing
publicawarenessworkshops,⚫Committee,
Provisionoftechnicaletc.
supportfor EANET
meetings, such a⚫ suchAdvisory
Advisory
Committee,
Committee,
Working
WorkingGroup
Group
Meeting,
Meeting,
etc.,
etc.,
and
and
organizingorganizing
publicpublicawareness
awarenessworkshops,
workshops,● ‌
Implementationofindividual
trainingat
ACAP,Inter-laboratory
Comparison
Project,
dispatchoftechnical
missions
toetc., and oAdvisory
Committee,
WorkingGroup
Meeting,theparticipating
countries, etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
●⚫‌Issuing
the Report of oftheSessionof theIntergovernmental
Meetings, etc., monitoring
guidelines,
technical⚫Implementation
Implementation
ofindividual
individual
training
training
atatACAP,
ACAP,
Inter-laboratory
Comparison
Comparison
Project,
Project,
dispatchdispatch
ofof Inter-labo⚫Inter-laboratory
Implementationof individual
training
atmanuals,
ACAP,papers,training
annual datareports, QA/QC
guidebook, science bulletin of the EANET, periodic
 strategy
technical
technical
missions
missions
tomaterials,
tothe
the
participating
participating
countries,
countries,
etc.
etc.
 technical missions to the participating countries, etc.
reports on the state of acid deposition in East Asia, etc.
Issuingthe
theReport
Reportofofthe
theSession
Sessionofofthe
theIntergovernmental
Intergovernmental
Meetings,
Meetings,
etc.,
monitoring
monitoring
guidelines,
guidelines,⚫⚫Issuing
Reportetc.,oftheSession of
the Intergovernment⚫ Issuing thetechnical
technical
manuals,manuals,
strategy
strategy
papers,papers,training
training
materials,
materials,
annualannualdata
data
reports,
reports,
QA/QC
QA/QC
guidebook,guidebook,technical
manuals,
strategy
papers,training materials, athesciencesciencebulletinbulletin
ofof
the
the
EANET,EANET,
periodic
periodic
reports
reports
onon
the
state
state
ofbulletin
of
acid
acid
deposition
deposition
inin
East
East
Asia,
Asia,
etc.
etc.  on the statescienceof the EANET,
periodic
reports


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ACAP


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Major Achievement（Research activities）‌Study
on Air Pollution at Niigata-Maki National
Acid Deposition Monitoring Station●●‌Intensive sampling of PM2.5 was carried out every four seasons at
the Niigata-Maki National Acid Deposition Monitoring Station,and research on source apportionment (right figure) of PM2.5 was
conducted by using component data and receptor model (Li et al.,Aerosol and Air Qual. Res. 18: 938–956, 2018)‌
The
carbonaceous component analysis of precipitation at threesites in Japan, including Niigata-Maki, showed significant
transboundary air pollution originating from fossil combustion in
winter and biomass combustion in spring (Huo et al., Atmos.
Environ. 146: 164–173, 2016).

Development of Asian Emission Inventory System●●●

The annual mean contribution of each source to PM2.5 at
Niigata-Maki.

‌We
are developing an emission inventory of air pollutants andgreenhouse gases in Asia called REAS (Regional Emission
inventory in ASia) for anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuelcombustion. Current status and trends of emissions in Asia areevaluated and analysed.
‌
Evaluationof uncertainties of emissions and improvement ofemission inventories are carried out using air quality models andinverse modelling.
‌
Emissionsof air pollutants in Asia increased significantly frommiddle of 20th Century (right figure). Recently, emissions in Chinareached their ceiling and are now showing decreasing trends. On
the other hand, emissions in South and Southeast Asia are
increasing. Recent trends in air pollutant emission in Asia arecomplicated.

Trend of NOx emission in Asian regions(Kurokawa et al., 14th iCACGP/15th IGAC, 2018)

Joint Studies in Thailand on Atmospheric and Catchment Scale Monitoring
●

●

‌
The
joint study with the Thailand Pollution Control Department,
the Asian Institute of Technology and the JICA Research Instituteclarified the main sources of PM2.5 which exceeded the air quality
standard in Bangkok Metropolitan Region during the dry season(right figure).（Narita et al. Atmosphere 10(5): 227, 2019）.
‌ the joint research project on catchment analysis with the RoyalIn
Forest Department of Thailand and the Environmental Research
and Training Center, a specific change was observed in the stream
water, in which the sulphate ion concentration increased
significantly. It was suggested that this phenomenon was affectedby changes in climatic conditions such as precipitation pattern inthe savanna climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons (Sase et al.
Hydrological Processes 31: 836–846, 2017).

Monthly variations of PM2.5 in Bangkok, Thailand（2015-2017）

Catchment Studies in Kajikawa Study Site and Lake Ijira Monitoring Site●●A‌ small catchment plot (Kajikawa study site) facing the Sea ofJapan was established in a Japanese cedar forest of Shibata City
(former Kajikawa Village), Niigata Prefecture to study the effects oftransboundary air pollution on forest ecosystems. The isotopic
study clarified that a part of nitrate derived from the atmosphericdeposition was unused in the ecosystem and drained into thestream (Nakagawa et al. Biogeosciences 15: 7025–7042, 2018). It issuggested that there is an excess of nitrogen compounds (nitrogensaturation) in the forest ecosystem.
‌The
Lake Ijira catchment in Yamagata City, Gifu Prefecture, washeavily affected by the Chukyo area on the Pacific side, andacidification and nitrogen saturation were noted in the mid-1990s.
However, in recent years, signs of recovery have been observed,
and the concentrations of sulphate ion (SO 42-) and nitrate ion(NO3-) in river water have decreased.（right figure：Sase et al.,Biogeochemistry 142: 357-374, 2019）

Ion concentrations in river water in Ijira lake catchment

4

ACAP

Major Facilities
Equipment/ apparatus for Monitoring and Sampling●‌Apparatus such as the following are available for monitoring, research and training purposes.

Equipment/instruments for Sample Analysis in Wet/Dry Deposition
Apparatus name

Use, etc.

Wet-only samplers

An apparatus that senses precipitation and opens the lid only when it is raining.

Denuder instruments

A collection system that separates particles and gas components in the atmosphere according to the difference in diffusion.

Filter pack kits

Collection system in which filters of different types are arranged in multiple stages to collect gas and particles separately.

Apparatus for Analysis of Wet/dry Deposition Monitoring Samples and Samples for Soil and Vegetation, and Inland Aquatic Environments
Ion Chromatographs

Used for measuring sulphate, nitrate and other ions contained in PM2.5 and precipitation.

Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS)

Used to measure elements in water (such as sodium and calcium).

pH meters

Used to measure hydrogen ion concentration, which is an index of precipitation acidity.

Conductivity meters

Used to measure conductivity, which is an indicator of the number of ions in water. Conductivity, as well as
pH, is an indicator of pollution to precipitation, river water and lake water.

Deionised water apparatus

Used for pretreatment such as dilution of sample solution in ultra-trace chemical composition analysis
below ppb level.

Modern Equipment/instruments for Sophisticated Research Activities
Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift
Spectrometer NO2 Monitor

An apparatus that can measure NO2 concentration directly in real time (a popular device measures NO
concentration and estimates NO2 from the concentration difference between NOx and NO).

Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer

An apparatus that measures sulphur and nitrogen isotopes. Use isotope ratio of elements for origin estimation.

Scanning Electron Microscope

Used for observation and elemental analysis of material surfaces such as plant leaves.

Gas Chromatograph Mass
Spectrometer (GC/MS)

Used for the qualitative and quantitative determination of organic substances such as volatile organic
compounds in the atmosphere.

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) meter

Used for measurement of total carbon, inorganic carbon and total organic carbon in precipitation and soil.

Liquid Chromatography Mass
Spectrometer (LC/MS)

Mainly used for the qualitative and quantitative determination of non-volatile organic substances andthermally unstable ones.

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass
Spectrometer (ICP-MS)

Used to measure ultra-trace elements in precipitation and in PM2.5.

OC/EC analyser

Used for measurement of elemental carbon (EC) and thermal temperature profile of organic carbon (OC) in
PM2.5 and for carbon origin estimation.

Ion Chromatograph

Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer

Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer

Scanning Electron Microscope

Other Modern Equipment●‌A telemeter system is installed with on-line connections to ten EANET monitoring sites in Japan.

●‌Computer servers and software for modelling research activities on long-range air pollutants transport are available.

Facilities and Office Equipment
●

‌
The
ACAP building is a two-story building that includes offices, chemical and biological laboratories, a training
laboratory, rooms for trainees, meeting rooms (also used for EANET international meeting), etc.

Computer Room
ACAP

5Laboratory for Trainees

Meeting Room for Trainees

Large Meeting Room

Equipment/Apparatus as International Monitoring Network＜ Monitoring Network for KOSA ＞
●

●

‌
The
Ministry of the Environment, Japan has installed Lidar Aerosols Monitoring System on the roof of ACAP as a partof the monitoring network for KOSA in Northeast Asia to conduct observations.
‌ 2017, it was honoured “The Environment Prize” for cooperating with the activities of the KOSA Lidar Network
In
Group.

＜ AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork）＞
●

‌
Sun
Sky Lunar Multispectral Photometer (CE-318) has been installed on the roof of ACAP as AERONET (Aerosol
RObotic NETwork) Site which NASA expands all over the world to measure the aerosol optical depth and for
conducting observations.

Lidar Aerosols Monitoring System

Lidar observation ＊1＊１：‌A radar using laser light, which remotely observes thevertical distribution of aerosols such as KOSA passing
above.

Monitoring Equipment on the roof of ACAPSun Sky Lunar
Multispectral Photometer ＊2＊２：‌A radiometer that senses direct sunlight from the sun and the moon foreight specific wavelengths and measures their radiation intensity. An
equipment to monitor Aerosol Optical Depth.

Monitoring Station and Site in Japan＜ Niigata-Maki National Acid Deposition Monitoring Station ＞
●

‌
Wet
and dry deposition sampling can be undertaken for research and training purposes at the Niigata-Maki nationalacid deposition monitoring station, located approximately 15 minutes by car from ACAP.

＜ Kajikawa Study Site ＞
●

‌
The
Kajikawa study site is located approximately 1 hour by car from ACAP, which was established in cooperation with
Niigata University and Niigata Prefecture. Studies on dynamics and cyclic processes of atmospheric pollutants in forest
ecosystems and their effects on the stream water have been conducted since 2002.

Niigata-Maki Acid Deposition Monitoring Station

Kajikawa Study Site

6

ACAP

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Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP)

Directions for access to the Asia Center for
Air Pollution Research (ACAP)● From the Kan-etsu Highway “Niigata-Nishi” exit:

Go through the Niigata west bypass to the Uchino area
and continue straight ahead for about five minutes.
Turn left at the Sowa intersection,
turn left in front of the Niigata Prefectural Training Institutefor Local Government Personnel.
From here, the ACAP building is about 250 meters aheadon the right side.

NiigataTokyo● From the Maki area via Route 116
Take Route 116 to Niigata.
Turn right at the Sowa intersection.

● From Narita Airport to Niigata

The fastest way to get to Niigata is to takethe JR Narita Express (NEX), which takes roughly
one hour for the one-way journey. Change trainsto the JR (MAX) Toki (Joetsu Shinkansen) at Tokyo Station(takes about two hours from Tokyo). At Niigata Station,change to the JR Echigo line (local line) and get off
at Uchino Station, and then take a taxi at Uchino Station to
ACAP (five-minute trip).

● From Niigata Airport

Shuttle bus service is available between Niigata Airport andNiigata Station. Get off at the South exit of Niigata Station.
Take the train to Uchino Station (on the Echigo line). Take ataxi at Uchino Station to ACAP (five-minute trip).

Asia Center for Air Pollution Research
Japan Environmental Sanitation Center

URL:https://www.acap.asia
1182 Sowa, Nishi-ku, Niigata-shi, 950-2144, Japan
Phone (+81)25-263-0550 Fax (+81)25-263-0566

Japan Environmental Sanitation Center ( JESC)
Head Office/East Branch Office10-6 Yotsuyakami-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 210-0828, JapanWest Branch Office

5-11 Shirakibaru 3-chome, Onojo City, Fukuoka Prefecture, 816-0943, Japan

Recycle-compliancy A
This printed matter can berecycled into printing paper.

October, 2019