### 5. Measures against Soil Pollution and Sick-House Syndrome

## (1) Prevention of sick-house syndrome

MLIT works on “sick-house syndrome” through regulations on materials and ventilation based on the Building Standard Act and Housing Performance Indication System based on the Housing Quality Assurance Act.

## (2) Measures against the problems caused by dioxin

The “manual on the measures against dioxin pollution encountered in construction (tentative version)” is used as a reference in the measures for spots where problems caused by dioxins clearly exist.

Furthermore, in ports and rivers where it is confirmed that the dioxin in sludge is over the environmental standards, the basic view on the river and harbor measures is unified. Measures against dioxin are being implemented based on the “manual on the measures against dioxin at the bottom of rivers, lakes, marshes, and etc.” (Proposal) revised in April 2008 and the “technical guidelines on measures against dioxin at the bottom of harbors”.

Practices to solve dioxine problems etc.

## (3) Measures against asbestos

The asbestos problem is a problem affecting human life. Now, the demolition period for buildings constructed after the 1970s in which large quantities of asbestos were imported, is coming. Therefore, it is important to take measure for preventing adverse effects.

In order to push forward the removal of asbestos in existing facilities, follow-up actions are being taken in terms of measures for removal and scattering prevention in the existing facilities administered by MLIT.

Furthermore, other than increasing the number of subsidized target buildings of the safety stock development business of residential housing and buildings, measures are being pushed forward for removing spray asbestos in existing buildings through the utilization of regional residential housing subsidies, etc.

Moreover, the revision of the Basic Act on Construction is being carried out, and the usage of spray asbestos in buildings is being regulated. In addition, in order to prevent scattering and exposure during demolition, information provision is being pushed forward, including the estimated cost reference of the spray asbestos removal work, information for identifying asbestos materials (Guidance book of asbestos construction), the formation of databases containing information on materials with asbestos, the pamphlet of measures against asbestos in buildings, etc. The necessary measures are also being pushed forward for thoroughly preventing the scattering of asbestos.

### 6. Environmental Measures in Construction

In order to reduce the burden on the atmosphere caused by construction, the implementation of regulations is being executed according to the “Act on Regulation, etc. of Emissions from Non-road Special Motor Vehicles” for controlling exhaust gases from construction machinery that is not running on the road. Addition, for those motor electricity generators outside the regulated types of the same Act, they are designated as construction machinery dealing with exhaust gases through the same Act with the same standards. At the same time to introduce into use in the construction of MLIT, a financial system during acquisition is being implemented. Moreover, as measures against noise and vibration caused by the construction, the designation and popularization promotion of low-noise and low-vibrating construction machinery is being worked out by the same method.