Japan has imported 1048 and tons and exported 5318 tons of PCBs before the ban of production. Considering the amount produced inside the country, 54001 tons are estimated to have been used in Japan with 70% of them as in electric equipments.

This table shows the kind of articles that contain PCBs. PCBs were used in transformers in a building and railways, capacitors in florescent lights, insulating oil in capacitors, heat medium in heating articles, lubricating oil of pumps, flame-resistant finish, non-carbon papers. They are also reported to have been used in sealants of a building.

Uses Product or Place Insulating oil Transformer Transformer of building, hospital, railroad and ship Condenser Capacitor of fluorecent right and mercury right, air conditioning, washing machine, black white television, microwave/ Fixed paper condencer/ D.C. condencer/ Condencer for storage Heating medium (Heating and Cooling) Heating and cooling for chemical industry, food industru and synthetic resin/ Preheating of fuel oil on ship/ Central heating/ Panel heater Lubricating oil Lubricating oil for high temperature/ Vacumu pomp etc. Plasticizer For insulating Insulating tape For fire retaldant Polyester resin/ Polyethirene resin/ Rubber Others Adhesive/ Varnis and wax/ Mix in asphalt Copy Non carbonic papers (solvents), electronic type copying papers Paint and Ink Paint on fire retaldant/ Paint on corrosion resistant/ Paint on chemical/ Paint on water proof/ Ink Others Coating on paper/ Sealant of car/ Painting of pottery and grass/ Parts of color televison/ Additive in pesticide/ Additive in gasoline

Reference: Ministry of Environment protection in Japan (2001) The pamphlet (Japanese)

As you can see, PCBs were used in various equipments. I would like to speak about the process of PCBs usage and the following process of regulation.

Transformer

Condenser

Capacitor

In Japan, the production of PCBs started in 1954 by Kaneka Corporation. They were named Kanechlor and depending on their composition, were called KC-300, KC-600, etc. PCBs had advantageous characteristics for industrial uses; they could be used as insulators, they also were durable to heat. It is considered that approximately 59000 tons were produced.

However, the Kanemi Yusho Case in 1968 provoked an attention to the poisonous effects of PCBs. People who consumed rice oil contaminated with PCBs became ill. It is said that approximately 14000 people have claimed to been poisoned at that time. However, only about 1900 people were certified as victims by the government. Certified and uncertified victims are suffering from the after-effects. Recently, the media reported that female victim tend to have disorders in reproductive organs, and also have higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Although 35 years have passed, Kanemi Yusho Case is not over.

In the study conducted later, it became clear that PCDF, one kind of dioxin contained in PCB, was more poisonous than PCB itself. However the poisonous features of PCBs were strongly focused and became a social issue right after the Kanemi Yusho Case, and subsequent regulations were made.

First of all, in 1972, an administrative guidance by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry requested the discontinuance of production, and, the collection and storage of already existing PCBs. Next, in 1974, "The Chemical Substances Control Law" was settled and the production, the import, the export, and the new use of PCBs were basically banned. Unfortunately, the construction of the treatment facility left outstanded after the legislation and the treatment of collected PCBs were scarcely done. What to do with the growing stock of PCB wastes has been a major task.

In 2001, the Stockholm Convention on POPs was adopted. The elimination of PCBs is a international consensus. Considering this situation, Japan has started to take action to implement PCBs destruction, I should say, finally. In the following year 2002, The Law for the Promotion of Environmentally Sound Destruction of PCB waste was established. Also in 2002, Japan has become accession member of the Stockholm Convention on POPs. In the next part of the speech, I will explain about the legislation in Japan.

1929 Swan Company, which merges with Monsanto Company afterwards, begins the production of PCBs in the United States 1954 The production of PCBs starts in Japan. (Kaneka Industries starts the production this year. Then in 1969, Mitsubishi Monsanto Company.) 1968 The Kanemi Yusho Case occurs in Japan. The poisonous characteristics of PCBs become a serious social issue 1972 The Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry prescribes the industries to stop the production of PCBs and to collect PCBs. 1974 The Chemical Substances Control Law (It forbids production, import, and the new use of PCBs.) 1976 Incineration at high temperature is suggested as one of the disposition methods in the Waste Disposal and Public Cleaning law in Japan 1987-89 Incineration of 5500 tons of liquid PCBs were done by Kaneka corporation at Takasago Plant 1992 PCBs were designated as Special Management Waste in the Waste Disposal and Public Cleaning Law 1998 Chemical treatment was added as a disposition method in the Waste Disposal and Public Cleaning Law 2000 New chemical decomposition treatment was added to the disposition methods December - POPs treaty agreed in Johannesburg (INC-5) 2001 The Stockholm Convention adopted June - The Law Regarding Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCBs Wastes enacted in Japan October - amend the law electric business

In Japan, PCBs are managed by The Chemical Substances Control Law, The Waste Disposal and Public Cleaning Law, and The Law for the Promotion of Environmentally Sound Destruction of PCB waste.

The ban of the production, import, and new usage were stated in the Chemical Substances Control Law and Production which was established and enacted in 1974. However no regulation was legislated for PCBs that were already in use. Therefore PCBs are still used in Japan. High-voltage transformers, capacitors, capacitors in florescent lights are the examples.

It is the Waste Disposal and Public Cleaning Law that defines the storage method and the destruction method. In this law, PCBs are defined as specific management needed industrial wastes and appropriate storage and disposal were obliged. The appointment of a manager to execute this task was also requested in this law. The law also defines the destruction method. In 1997, destruction by chemical treatment was accepted in addition to destruction by incineration.

In 2001, The Law for the Promotion of Environmentally Sound Destruction of PCB waste was enforced and the destruction of PCB wastes were determined to be finished by 2016. PCB owners were obliged to submit a report on the situation of storage and destruction. A penalty for making a false report was also fixed.

The Law for the Promotion of Environmentally Sound Destruction of PCB waste in 2001 obliges PCB owners to report the situation of storage and usage of PCB. The reports were summarized last year and was made public by the Japanese Ministry of Environment. However, you cannot fully trust the data. The reported amount of PCBs currently in use does not mean the whole amount actually used in Japan. There exists PCBs that did not show up in the data because they were not reported.

At this point, identified PCB wastes in storage are the following: approximately 240,000 high-voltage transformers and condensers, approximately 1,180,000 low-voltage transformers and condensers, approximately 4,170,000 stabilizers, approximately 140,000 tons of PCB containing oil. Since the survey in 1998, the amount of PCBs in storage has increased. There are 2 possible explanations for this phenomenon. PCB containing equipment may have finished its duration life during this 5 years and was stored. And also new PCBs may have been found as a result of efforts made in order to find them.

Among electric equipments, especially high-voltage transformers and condensers contain large mass of PCBs and they could be major sources of contamination. Capacitors in florescent lights contain only a small amount of PCBs, but the number of florescent lights that were manufactured is so enormous, they cannot be ignored.

The storage of PCB wastes are requested to be done in a strict manner, for example, to enclose with walls, to indicate that it is a PCB waste, etc. However, certain amount of PCBs are lost. For example, it is estimated that over 10,000 of large transformers and condensers are lost. From this fact, we can assume how sloppy the management of stored PCBs were.

Inappropriate storage of PCB wastes may result in environmental pollution. It might cause accidental PCB leakage to the environment. It can also bring about (intended or not intended) inappropriate disposition. The risk is more severe especially if the period of storage is long. Japan must implement the detoxification treatment of stored PCBs as fast as possible.

There are PCB containing equipments and articles that are still in use like the capacitor in florescent lights, transformer, and capacitors. These equipments were believed to be safe because they were closed systems but this is not true. Those that are used longer than its duration period may burst and spill PCBs.

In Japan, a burst of the florescent light took place approximately 30 times in past 15 years. These accidents happened in schools, the worst location for such accident to take place, and students were covered with PCBs. These accidents became a social issue, and an administrative guidance requested the exchange of PCB containing articles in school facilities. The exchange is being implemented, but PCB containing florescent lights may remain in other public facilities.

Even if they did not burst, they are dangerous themselves. One study indicates that PCB in capacitors used in florescent lights sealant evaporate bit by bit. Even if the amount evaporated was small, once PCBs leak into the environment, they may contaminate wild animals, and even mankind, through biological accumulation.

We must investigate the accurate number of PCB containing equipments in use, and promote proper storage and disposition when they become wastes.

The present condition of Japan is roughly summarized to 3 points;

• There have been a lot of accidents and loss of PCB containing equipments.
• The destruction treatment was hardly promoted.
• The PCB pollution of fish and other sea creatures is ongoing. Watanabe is an expert in this subject.

In Japan, these issues have been neglected for about 30 years. But the Stockholm Convention was adopted, and the disposal of PCBs is being promoted internationally, so the Japanese government also began to take measures at last. And one of it is The Law for the Promotion of Environmentally Sound Destruction of PCBs which I introduced in the previous slide.

PCB owners have duties to report the situation of storage, to follow the restriction on handing over, and to dispose them within a period.

The central and prefectural governments have duties to draw up the basic plan for disposal of PCBs, and make the information on the situation of the storage and other related matters open to the public. Also PCB manufacturers are burdened to pay the expense

The Environmental Corporation is planning to build a PCB treatment facility in every region in Japan. The corporation will execute the destruction of PCBs in that are a corresponding to an entrustment from PCB owners. In November 2001, The City of Kitakyushu accepted the construction of a destruction treatment facility. Aichi Prefecture, Osaka, Hokkaido, and Tokyo followed. It is necessary to find a community in other areas that would accept the construction. Destruction method is going to be chosen from various chemical treatments.

The city of Kitakyusyu was the first community to accept destruction facility. The city government held meetings with the residents on this issue for over 100 times. The citizens had joined the process of making the plan from the beginning. The city established a monitoring committee that includes residents as members. The plan reflects the residents' will. For example, tough sealed container must be used for transportation of PCBs. Also, the location of a vehicle carrying PCBs is monitored at all times by a satellite. The case of Kitakyusyu would make an ideal role model for other communities.

JOF will continue our project on PCBs and our future activities include: make posters that shows PCB containing equipments with pictures and distribute to the public and places such as recycling centers. Use those posters to investigate whether old stabilizers or transformers or condensers still exist or not. And in cases those equipments are found, we will conduct chemical analysis of some products to find out whether they really contain PCB oils. Conduct research on human contamination in Asia be investigating breast milk contamination. Hold a symposium to exchange further information.

These are just JOF's plan and I hope you inspire us, so if you have any good ideas please tell me at the discussion time.

Thank you for listening.