approximately 2-3°C, such that urbanization will likely aggravate the global warming trend and render temperature increases more prominent.

In order to advance comprehensive and effective measures for dealing with the urban heat island effect, we are engaged in various initiatives according to the Outline of Measures for Dealing with the Heat Island Effect, which systematically summarizes specific measures put forth by relevant ministries and agencies. These initiatives include the following: initiatives that reduce artificial heat emitted by air-conditioning systems and automobiles, initiatives that improve ground surfaces based on the greening of public spaces and the use of water, initiatives that consist of urban development projects that take wind channels into account, and initiatives for which observations, monitoring, and surveys are conducted with respect to the heat island phenomenon.

## 5 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 labelling systems based on the “Housing Quality Assurance Act.”

In the maintenance 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

Studies over the water and earth quality of class A river

systems throughout Japan are being conducted for dioxins specified in the “Act on Special Measures concerning Countermeasures against Dioxins.” In FY 2014, the sediment of all locations and the water quality of 98% (219 locations out of 224) of the locations satisfied environmental standards.

For rivers, ports, and harbors, we have implemented dioxin countermeasures as required according to the Manual on Measures to Deal with Dioxins at the Bottom of Lakes (proposed), which was revised in April 2008, and the Technical Guide on Measures to Deal with Dioxins at the Bottom of Ports and Harbors (revised edition). Support for programs involving pollution-prevention measures is being provided for rivers, ports, and harbors where dioxins exceeding standards have been detected in samples taken from the bottom of these locations.

## (3) Measures against asbestos

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

In order to accurately and efficiently determine the actual use of asbestos building materials, investigators are being trained based on the system for investigators of structures containing asbestos building materials, which was created in 2013.

Also, based on the “Building Standards Law”, the removal of sprayed asbestos when renovating a building is required, auxiliary system of comprehensive grants for social capital development is in place to promote the asbestos removal in existing buildings and follow ups are being done for the situation of the removal and anti-scattering of asbestos in the existing facilities under the jurisdiction of national ministries and agencies.

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