Desirable standards (environmental standards) to be maintained for air, water, soil, and noise are legally established. As part of this framework, industrial cleaning agents cannot be drained directly into sewage systems after use. This article introduces three laws related to environmentally considerate cleaning systems.
2. Water Pollution Prevention Act
3. Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act
4. Summary
1. Air Pollution Control Act
The Air Pollution Control Act was enacted in 1968 with the purpose of preserving the atmospheric environment. Emission standards and other regulations are established for air pollutants discharged or dispersed from factories and business establishments, according to the type of substance and the type and scale of facilities. It was enacted in response to the social issue of "smoke and soot" (※1) from factories during the high economic growth period.
Reference: Ministry of the Environment "Problems Caused by Air Pollution"
Non-aqueous cleaning agents become gaseous organic compounds when discharged or dispersed into the atmosphere, causing the formation of suspended particulate matter and photochemical oxidants. Therefore, all non-aqueous cleaning agents, except for some fluorinated solvents, are classified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and measures to suppress their emission and dispersion are required.
For example, for VOCs in cleaning facilities, those with an area where the cleaning agent comes into contact with air (※2) of 5㎡ or more must suppress emissions to 400 ppmC (※3) or less.
※1：Smoke and soot: Sulfur oxides, soot, harmful substances, etc. generated by combustion of materials.
※2：Such as the opening area of cleaning tanks
※3：ppmC (carbon-converted concentration): "ppm" refers to volumetric concentration, where 1 ppm represents 1 part per million by volume. "ppmC" is the carbon-converted volume fraction per million.
2. Water Pollution Prevention Act
The Water Pollution Prevention Act is a law aimed at preventing water pollution in public water bodies and preserving the living environment through regulation of water discharged from factories and business establishments into public water bodies. Like the Air Pollution Control Act, it was enacted in 1970 during the high economic growth period to resolve serious water pollution problems caused by organic mercury that triggered Minamata disease.
The law establishes regulations on emission standards and restrictions for groundwater infiltration, notification of specified facilities, emergency measures, the scope of public water bodies, specified business establishments and facilities, and wastewater standards.
There are 28 items of harmful substances. The established wastewater pollution state standards cover multiple items including hydrogen ion concentration (pH), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Since standard values may be raised by prefectures, it is important to check as necessary.
Reference: Water Pollution Prevention Act Related Materials
3. Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act
The Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act is a law that establishes standards and countermeasures for harmful substances in soil. It was enacted in 2002 in response to growing social interest in soil contamination.
As substances with the potential to cause health hazards to humans, 26 substances including lead and arsenic are designated as specified harmful substances. In the cleaning field, 11 types of volatile organic compounds including chlorinated cleaning agents are designated as Type 1 harmful substances.
Reference: Ministry of the Environment Pamphlet "Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act System" p.5
4. Summary
Cleaning agents are used to remove dirt, but if that dirt is discharged as-is, it causes significant damage not only to the global environment but also to ecosystems. Because our lives depend on the global environment, it is important to give sufficient consideration to the environment for sustainable development.
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