Overcoming Environmental Risks to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals: Lessons from the Japanese Experience

Preface
Contents
Chapter 1: Purpose of This e-Book
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Part 1. Pollution-Related Diseases in Japan
1.3 Part 2. Environmental Risks of the Present
1.4 Part 3. Toward a Sustainable Society
Part I: Learning from Case Analysis of Past Environmental Risks
Chapter 2: Minamata Disease
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Health Effects of High-Level Methylmercury Exposure
2.3 Company’s Responses
2.4 Government Response to Minamata Disease
2.5 Issues Related to Officially Certified Patients of Minamata Disease
2.6 Health Effects of Low-Level Methylmercury Exposure
2.7 Mercury Pollution in the World
2.8 Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: Itai-Itai Disease: Health Issues Caused by Environmental Exposure to Cadmium and Residents’ Fight to Rebuild the Environment in the Jinzu River Basin in Toyama
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Environmental Pollution Due to Cadmium and Its Damages
3.2.1 Development of the Kamioka Mine and History of the Damage
3.2.2 Health Impact on the Residents of the Jinzu River Basin: History of itai-itai Disease
3.3 Recent Trends Regarding the Itai-Itai Disease
3.4 Fifty Years of Residents’ Fight to Reclaim the Environment and Its Results
3.4.1 Field Survey of Kamioka Mine Based on the Pollution Prevention Agreement
3.4.2 Result of Measures Against the Sources at Kamioka Mine
3.4.3 Improvements to the Quality of Water and Sediment in the Jinzu River Basin
3.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 4: Arsenic Intoxication in Toroku District of Japan
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Arsenic Pollution Worldwide
4.3 Arsenic Pollution in Japan
4.4 Arsenic Pollution in the Toroku Mine [26–28]
4.5 Review Related to the Toroku Mine
4.6 Current Environment Around the Toroku Mine
References
Chapter 5: Yokkaichi Asthma: Health Effects of Air Pollutants in Japan
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Toxicological Evidence on the Health Effects of SO2
5.3 History of Yokkaichi Asthma
5.4 Current Studies Related to Yokkaichi Asthma
5.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: “YOKKAICHI Studies” Learned from the YOKKAICHI Air Pollution for Environmental Policy and International Environmental Cooperation in Asia
6.1 “YOKKAICHI Studies” Learned from the YOKKAICHI Air Pollution
6.2 Litigation Judgement of YOKKAICHI Air Pollution and Environmental Policies by Mie Prefecture and YOKKAICHI City
6.3 Glocalization of Human Resource Development and Creating Sustainable City through Collaboration of ESD and SDGs
6.4 International Environmental Cooperation in Asia
References
Chapter 7: What we Have Learned from the Pollution that Occurred in Japan a Half Century Ago
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Occurrence of the Pollution
7.3 Response to the Damage
7.4 End of Severe Contamination
7.5 Citizens’ Initiatives for Environmental Issues
7.6 Current and Future Challenges of Health Effects from the Environment
References
Parts II: Environmental Issues That the World Is Watching Now
Chapter 8: Current Status and Problems Concerning the Management of Persistent Organic Chemicals Used in Products and those of Unintentional Products in Japan
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Progress in International Chemical Management
8.3 International Move in Persistent Organic Pollutants Management
8.4 POPs Regulation in Japan before and after Stockholm Convention
8.4.1 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Waste
8.4.2 Organochlorine Pesticides
8.4.3 Industrial Chemicals
8.4.4 Unintentional Products
8.5 Achievements in Dioxins and PCBs Management
8.6 Challenges in Chemical Management in Japan
References
Chapter 9: Health Risk Assessment and Management of Asbestos Exposure to the Public in Japan
9.1 Asbestos Disasters in Japan
9.2 Asbestos Leakage at a Subway Station
9.3 Asbestos Exposure in Areas with Serpentinite
9.4 Health Risk Management and Sustainable Development
References
Chapter 10: Marine Plastic Pollution: Chemical Aspects and Possible Solutions
10.1 Microplastics: Here, There, and Everywhere
10.2 Anthropocene: Ubiquitous Occurrence of Microplastics
10.3 Plastic Ingestion: Threat to Biodiversity and Food Security
10.4 Warning Bell: Chemical Threat from Marine Plastics and Microplastics
10.5 Reduction of Plastic Consumption: Key Solution to Human and Marine Plastic Pollution
References
Chapter 11: Solution and Agreement in the Nuclear Disaster: Toward an Inclusive Society Respecting Relationship from Sacrificial System
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Course of Nuclear Disaster
11.2.1 Summary of the Overall Course
11.2.2 Progress in the Yamakiya District
11.2.3 Scientists’ Behavior
11.2.4 Consent to the Exposure
11.2.5 Restoration of Mountain Villages
11.2.5.1 Maps for Radiation Protection
11.2.5.2 Forest Radioactivity Countermeasures
11.2.5.3 To Accelerate the Recovery of the Environment through Consultation and Daily Life
11.2.5.4 Measures for Domestic and Overseas Markets
11.2.5.5 Yamakiya’s Future
11.3 Final Remarks
References
Chapter 12: Current Environmental Risks and their Management in Japan
12.1 Proper Management of Toxic Chemical Substances and Problems
12.2 Health Risk Assessment and Management of Asbestos Exposure to Citizens
12.3 Solving the Marine Plastic Problem
12.4 Risk Communication Learned from Nuclear Disaster
Parts III: Towards the Realization of a Sustainable and Well-Being Society
Chapter 13: The Future of Washing
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Considering the Life Cycle of Washing
13.3 Considering the Future of Washing
13.3.1 Evaluation of the Environmental and Societal Impacts of Washing
13.3.2 Defining Sustainable Washing
13.3.3 Sophistication of Washing Technology
13.3.4 Changing Consumer Awareness and Behavior
13.3.5 Encouraging Cutting-Edge Technology
13.3.6 Understanding Diverse Washing Technologies and Culture
References
Chapter 14: Initiatives on Responsible Consumption: Oguni Town
14.1 Introduction
14.2 From Environmental Model City to SDGs Future City
14.3 Responsibility to Use
14.4 On Behalf of the Knot
Chapter 15: Lessons of Court Decisions on Minamata Disease and Future Actions
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Brief History of Minamata Disease Cases
15.3 Two Decisions Regarding the Compensation in the Minamata Disease Cases
15.4 Lesson from the Two Judgments
References
Chapter 16: An Initiative of an Environmental Model City: Featuring Sustainable and Healthy Cities
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Creation of an “Environmental Model City” Based on the Lessons Learned from Minamata Disease
16.3 A Collective Vision of the Future and the Community’s Continuous Effort
16.4 Shared Values Among the Community and Passing These onto the Next Generation
16.5 Conclusion: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
References
Chapter 17: Divorcing from Plastics for a Sustainable Future Society
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Applications and Production of Plastics in Japan
17.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastics
17.4 Marine Pollution by Plastics
17.5 Environmental Pollution by Microplastics
17.6 Health Hazards of Hazardous Chemicals Included in Plastics
17.6.1 Effect of Styrene Trimmer on Thyroid Hormones
17.6.2 Effect of Plasticizer Diethylhexyl Phthalate on the Next Generation
17.7 SDGs: An Invitation to a Future Society
17.8 Taking Action for Plastic Reduction
17.9 Conclusion
References
Chapter 18: Issues of Environmental Risks in the Anthropocene
18.1 Two Major Changes during the Last Seven Decades
18.2 Recognizing the Size of our Finite World
18.2.1 Planetary Boundaries
18.2.2 Risks of Chemicals in the Context of the Planetary Boundaries: Local-Global Connection
18.2.3 Planetary Boundaries May Not Be Sufficient for Human Health and Well-being
18.3 Too Many Chemicals, Too Many Interactions
18.3.1 Combined Exposure among Chemicals and with Non-chemical Factors: (Including Exposome Approach)
18.3.2 Systematic/Mechanistic Understanding of Adverse Outcomes
18.4 Future Directions
References
Chapter 19: Spectrum of Environmental Risk Assessment, Management, and Communication
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Status of Health Conditions in Japan
19.3 Previous Pollution Issues in Japan
19.4 Individual Issues in Japan
19.4.1 Issues Regarding Chemical Pollutants in Japan
19.4.2 Importance of Early Exposure Assessment and Management
19.4.3 Asbestos
19.4.4 Indoor Health Risks
19.4.5 Multiple Environmental Risks
19.5 Risk Assessment and Precautionary Approach
19.6 Precautionary Principle
19.6.1 Precautionary Principle Approach
19.6.2 Reasonably Achievable Principle
19.6.3 Environmental Responsibility
19.6.4 Environmental Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment, and the Use of Various Assessments
19.7 Importance of Risk Communication
19.8 Conclusion
References