Japan to cooperate with China on measures to counter air pollution

TOKYO, Jan. 23 Kyodo -
Japan will cooperate with China on measures to counter air pollution starting
this spring, as it sees that increased photochemical smog in Japan may be
partly caused by cross-border pollution from the neighboring country, according
to the Japanese Environment Ministry.
The ministry plans to offer technological and other advice based on its
experience in tackling air pollution, in the hope of helping China put together
a new five-year plan to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions that cause air
pollution.
The ministry has earmarked 18 million yen in the government's fiscal 2010
budget plan, including related expenses for the project such as studies and
research.
The project mainly involves holding seminars for China's central and local
governments, conducting joint Japan-China onsite surveys and research, and
informing the Chinese about illnesses caused by pollution such as Minamata
disease, a neurological ailment resulting from mercury poisoning, the ministry
said.
Japan will also convey its know-how, including total volume control of nitrogen
oxides and combustion technology, help China identify the source of the
pollution and analyze data from the past, it said.
Air pollution in Japan has decreased after full-fledged legal restrictions were
put into place in 1968. But the polluted areas have been spreading in recent
years, with photochemical smog advisories issued in 28 prefectures in 2009,
matching the record high marked in 2007.
Toshimasa Ohara of the National Institute for Environmental Studies welcomed
Japan's cooperation with China. ''It would be epoch-making if the states were
to address cross-border pollution proactively,'' he said.
==Kyodo