## Countermeasures for sick building syndrome and soil contamination

## (1) Countermeasures for sick building syndrome

Sick building syndrome describes a situation where materials used in the interior of a building disperses chemical substances which are hazardous to health. Japan is taking measures such as regulations on building materials and ventilation in the “Building Standard Act,” and formulating performance labeling systems based on the “Housing Quality Assurance Act.”

In the construction of government facilities, Japan has implemented restrictions over the usage of building materials containing chemical substances, as well as measuring the indoor concentration of airborne chemical contaminants after completing construction.

## (2) Countermeasures against issues related to dioxins in rivers and harbors

Investigations for dioxins specified in “Act on Special Measures concerning Countermeasures against Dioxins” are conducted on the water and sedimentary soil of class A river systems throughout Japan. In the river sections under jurisdiction of the MLIT, the quality of sedimentary soil of all sites and the quality of water of 229 sites out of the 233 satisfied environmental standards (FY 2012).

Countermeasures are being implemented for rivers and harbors where sediment was found contaminated with dioxins exceeding that of what is defined by the environmental quality standard based on “The Manual for Countermeasures against Sediment Contaminated with Dioxins in Rivers and Lakes” and “The Manual for Countermeasures against Sediment Contaminated with Dioxins in Harbors (Revised Edition)” MLIT also supports pollution control projects for rivers and harbors.

## (3) Measures against asbestos

Issues concerning asbestos are life-threatening. As buildings that were built in the 1970s, when mass amounts of asbestos were imported to Japan, each their dismantling period, it is important to implement preemptive measures to prevent injuries from occurring.

In order to advance the removal of asbestos in already existent facilities, Japan is following up on the status of measures towards removal and dispersal prevention in facilities under jurisdiction of respective ministries or agencies.

In addition, measures for removing spray-applied asbestos insulation in already existing buildings are being promoted through activities such as composite subsidies for improving social infrastructures. The removal of spray-applied asbestos insulation during remodeling or expanding buildings is also mandated by the “Building Standards Act.”

Furthermore, Japan is promoting the dissemination of information in efforts such as compiling data bases on referential cost estimates for removal work of spray-applied asbestos insulation, documents useful for identifying building materials containing asbestos (Visually identifiable building materials containing asbestos) and information on such materials, as well as pamphlets for measures related to asbestos in buildings.

## 6 Environmental measures in construction

In order to reduce the impact that construction has on the atmospheric environment, usage regulations based on the “Act on Regulation, etc. of Emissions from Non-Road Special Motor Vehicles” are being enforced on construction equipment that do not travel on roads. Standards for emission regulations have sequentially gone under reinforcement since 2011. Additionally, Japan is promoting the use of reduced emission type construction machinery in projects under the direct jurisdiction of the MLIT, seeking to stimulate the dissemination of such equipment. In 2010, Japan established a system for certifying construction equipment with exceptional $ CO_{2} $ reducing capabilities, such as hybrid vehicles, as low-carbon type construction equipment and is providing support through financing systems. Moreover, Japan has