Japan: Air Quality Standards

Overview

 * Standard type: Ambient air quality limits
 * Regulating body: Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
 * Current standard: Environmental Quality Standards
 * Future standard: Standards are updated within existing legislation
 * Applicability: National

History
Japan's ambient air quality standards are known as Environmental Quality Standards, formulated under the authority of the Air Pollution Control Law. It was last amended by Rule No. 32 in 1996, but expanded several times to include additional pollutants.

Air pollution has been a point of concern in Japanese society since the 1930s. In 1932, pollution opposition movements led to the establishment of the country’s first statutory limits on particulate matter under the Osaka Prefecture. Several decades later, rapid economic expansion following the war became a source of severe air pollution. In 1968, the Air Pollution Control Act was enacted, and a year later the first SO2 standards were set. In 1974 a total volume control was implemented for SOx, followed by the addition of a NO2 standard in 1978 and a total volume control for NOx in 1981.

Technical Standards
Standards listed below are derived from the MOE website for Environmental Quality Standards.

Links
Air Pollution Control Law

Air Quality Standards

Regulatory agencies

Ministry of the Environment (MOE)