|
|
|
PCB Symposium 2002 in Japan |
|
|
 |
| PCB Symposium
2002 |
|
|
|
February 3, 2002
In spite of rain, about 100 people participated in the PCB International
Symposium held in Mainichi Hall (Tokyo). Not only private citizens
participated, but also newspaper reporters and representatives
of schools that have experienced explosions of fluorescent light
capacitors.
The following comments were heard from the participants:
"It was surprising to know that PCBs are used in familiar places
and they are leaching out of capacitors."
"I came to know that the same problem is occurring in every
country in Asia."
In addition, the lecturers became close to each other and promised
to continue their work toward the elimination of PCBs.
<Program>
"PCB Emission from Fluorescent
Lights"
Keynote lecture: Dr. Masaaki Hosomi
(Professor of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and
Technology)
|
 |
"Reports from Asian Countries"
Ms. Hyesook Lee (CACPK: Citizens' Alliance for Consumer Protection
of Korea)
Ms. Vivian Tsung (Hong Kong Consumer Council)
Mr. Robert Lin (Taiwan Environmental Protection Union)
Ms. Hatijah Hashim (CAP: Consumers' Association of Penang,
Malaysia)
"Conclusion"
Japan Offspring Fund
The Problem of PCBs in Asia
and the JOF Project
The followings are the introduction of the Japan
Offspring Fund's project on PCB problems and what
was done at the workshop held on February 2, 2002
JOF's International project
In Japan, there have been a number of cases reported
in which fluorescent light capacitors exploded
and PCBs dropped on students. Since the Japan
Offspring Fund's office building is old, we investigated
our fluorescent lights and it turned out that
we, too, were using PCB-containing capacitors.
We never imagined that PCBs existed in such a
familiar place.
After this finding, we requested the Ministry
of Health, Labor, and Welfare and Tokyo Metropolitan
Government Office to start coping with the problem
of PCBs. Also, in 2001, we started an international
project on PCBs with support from the Japan Fund
for the Global Environment in 2001.
In our project, we tested whether PCBs leak from
fluorescent light capacitors. We asked Tokyo University
of Agriculture and Technology to conduct tests.
Since capacitors are closed systems, it was thought
that PCBs do not leak. We found out, though, that
PCBs were actually leaking out into ambient air.
As part of our project, we also did research on
the current situation regarding PCBs in Asia.
We asked NGOs in Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan,
and Hong Kong to report information on the current
situation in their respective nations regarding
laws, use/storage situations, and treatment of
wastes. After the research, we invited those NGO
representatives to Japan and held a workshop and
a symposium in February 2002. We exchanged information
and discussed what we can do.
Conclusions of the NGO Workshop
We held a workshop on February 2nd and NGOs exchanged
information and had a discussion. The following
conclusions were reached during the discussions:
Certain regulations of PCBs exist in each country;
however, the problem is enforcement. The public
is not aware of these laws, or even if known,
there is still considerable illegal dumping of
PCB wastes.
Lack of information regarding the use and storage
of PCB-containing equipment is a common subject
in every country. It is important to keep track
of such information, since PCB-containing equipment
is often misplaced or lost during storage due
to changes in personnel, and such lost equipment
can be dumped as ordinary waste, thus polluting
the environment.
It is necessary to stop the use of PCBs immediately
and to advance the treatment of PCB wastes. For
treatment of PCBs, incineration is the most common
process in many countries. However, incineration
has problems, such as who pays the costs, what
to do about dioxin pollution, and how to treat
incineration ashes. As a result, it is often difficult
to obtain the agreement of residents around treatment
facilities. Other than incineration, chemical
treatment or the use of microbes are being considered.
Among NGOs participating in the workshop, Japan
was the only country that does not yet have any
treatment facilities.
What is Needed Internationally?
Since there are various languages spoken in Asian
countries, information tends to be reported solely
in each nation. In order to cope with international
problems such as PCBs, it is very important to
share news and information, such as test results
on food and environment pollution. It is also
important to provided information on web pages
so that many people can have access to the information
they need.
In 2001, the POPs Convention was adopted in Stockholm.
Countries that have ratified this convention are
expected to abide by the spirit and letter of
the POPs agreement. So far, only 2 countries have
ratified (*1 as of Feb. 2002). China and South
Korea have signed the convention but Japan has
neither signed nor ratified the convention (*2
as of Feb. 2002). For the elimination of POPs,
as many countries as possible must ratify this
convention.
(*1) 29 nations including Japan
have ratified (as of Feb. 2003).
(*2) Japan acceded in Aug. 2002. "Accede" means
almost same meaning with "ratify."
Since PCBs were banned in the 1970s in developed
countries, many people have already forgotten
about this problem or there are even people who
do not know anything about the PCB problem. In
order to reduce the quantity of lost or unknown
PCB-containing equipment, there is a need for
cooperation with the general public. Therefore,
raising public awareness is especially important.
How JOF is appealing to the World concerning
the Problem of PCBs
In order to raise public awareness, JOF has done
the following:
We made "STOP PCB posters" in six languages
(for Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and
Malaysia, and for English speaking countries)
and distributed these to many countries. This
poster calls for the elimination of PCB-containing
equipment as the source of PCB pollution.
We have participated in the Joint FAO/WHO Food
Standard Program's Codex Committee on Food Additives
and Contaminants, and appealed for the necessary
elimination of PCBs.
Let's Check Fluorescent Light Capacitors
Production of PCBs was banned in 1972 in Japan.
However, there is still a possibility that fluorescent
light capacitors containing PCBs are being used
in old buildings built before the ban. There is
an urgent need to exchange these for new capacitors
and to conduct appropriate treatment and disposal
of the PCB-containing capacitors.
Please check the capacitors of fluorescent lights
near you and report to JOF if you find any that
might contain PCBs.
How to Check Fluorescent Light Capacitors
First, remove the electric bulb.
Second, remove the cover so you see the ballast
that contains capacitor.
Then, check the label.
Reporting in JOF's Monthly Magazine
JOF reports on PCB problems in our monthly magazine,
"Safety of Our Foods and Life."
Acknowledgement
The PCB Symposium 2002 was possible thanks to
support from the Japan Fund for the Global Environment
of the Japan Environment Corporation.
|
|
|
|
|
