# 2. Conservation of the Atmospheric Environment, the Water Environment, and the Soil Environment

## (1) Measures for Conservation of the Atmospheric Environment

A. Provision of Systems for Monitoring and Observing the Atmospheric Environment

In order to ascertain the nationwide state of the atmospheric environment and obtain basic information necessary for promotion of policies for conservation of the atmosphere, Japan has established the National Ambient Air Pollution Monitoring stations (at 9 sites) and National Roadside Air Pollution Monitoring stations (at 10 sites), and has been conducting monitoring. These monitoring stations serve as standard stations for the monitoring stations set by local governments to carry out continual monitoring of the atmospheric environment, as testing stations for continuously monitoring the atmospheric environment as monitoring stations for substances that were designated by the government as hazardous air pollutants, and as background monitoring stations for air pollutants.

Japan has also been conducting monitoring based on the “Long-Term Acid Trans-boundary Air Pollution and Deposition Monitoring Program (revised in March 2009)” at 27 sites throughout the country, mainly in remote areas such as isolated islands, in order to ascertain the long-term effects of acid deposition and trans-boundary air pollution in Japan.

The government is also conducting monitoring studies on environmental radiation by monitoring atmospheric radiation mainly in remote islands where there is comparatively less influence of human activity (10 sites nationwide) and providing information about the results on the webpage “System for Disclosing Monitoring Data on Environmental Radiation (http://housyasen.taiki.go.jp/).”

Local governments are constantly monitoring atmospheric pollution at ambient air pollution monitoring stations and roadside air pollution monitoring stations, based on the Air Pollution Control Law (Law No. 97 of 1968).

Figure 2-1 Changes in the Number of Monitoring Stations by Maximum Hourly Concentration Level of Photochemical Oxidants during Daytime (Total of AAPMSs and RAPMSs) (FY 2005-FY 2009)

Source: Ministry of the Environment, FY 2009 Report on the State of Air Pollution

The national government collects that data (preliminary figures) in real time using the “Atmospheric Environmental Regional Observation System (AEROS),” nicknamed “Soramame-kun,” and provides information on both their website and mobile website.

Also, in accordance with the environmental quality standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the government conducts continuous equivalence monitoring of air pollution status using both the standard measuring method of PM 2.5 and automatic measuring instruments used for continuous monitoring of atmospheric pollution conducted based on the Air Pollution Control Law.

### B. Measures Against Photochemical Oxidants (International Efforts)

As the emissions of substances that cause photochemical oxidants have been increasing in the Eastern Asian region due to recent economic growth, there are concerns about the effects on Japan's atmospheric environment. Therefore, Japan made a proposal for cooperation in scientific research on photochemical oxidants, which was agreed upon at the "9th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among China, Japan, and Korea," held in December 2007. The "Tripartite Workshop on Scientific Research of Photochemical Oxidants" has been held since 2008 with the participation of researchers and policy-makers in order to share scientific knowledge about photochemical oxidants and consider future cooperation in research activities. Based on a plan for environmental cooperation that was adopted at the "12th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among China, Japan, and Korea" in May 2010, efforts for collaborative research will be further strengthened.

### C. Measures Against Acid Deposition and Dust and Sandstorms

Recent economic expansion in the Eastern Asian region led to an increase in emissions of substances that cause acid deposition, and there are concerns that the effects of acid deposition on the ecosystem may become a serious problem in the near future.

In order to determine the current state and effects of acid deposition, and to establish regional cooperation systems related to this issue, the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) has been in full operation since 2001. Under the Japanese government's initiative, thirteen countries in the Eastern Asian region participate in the EANET which has accumulated reliable data by monitoring acid deposition through a common methodology.

The participating countries in the EANET continued discussion on an instrument to provide a solid base for making financial contributions to the EANET, in accordance with the decision made by the seventh session of Intergovernmental Meeting held in 2005. As a result, the “Instrument for Strengthening EANET” was adopted and signed at the 12th session of the Intergovernmental