We, the citizens of Tokorozawa, are working hard to reduce the level of air pollution in our city. We divide household garbage into four types: burnables, things which should not be burned (eg. vinyl and chloride), cans and glass bottles to be recycled, and plastics. In spite of our efforts, the level of dioxin in our city remains dangerously high. Everyday a huge load of industrial waste is brought into Tokorozawa from the Tokyo area. It is incinerated around the clock without any sort of regulation, simply because there are no laws in Japan dealing with garbage incineration. We must stop this anti-social activity as soon as possible. The officials of Tokorozawa City and Saitama Prefecture ignore our requests to regulate garbage disposal. The Mayor of Tokorozawa City has even tried to conceal the existence of dioxin pollution in our area. What can we do to protect ourselves and restore the environment? Please give us your ideas and advice!
We are the residents of Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Tokorozawa lies about 20 kilometers northwest of Tokyo. It is a beautiful park-like suburb of tree-lined avenues and spacious parkland that was once a safe, enjoyable environment for our families. Over the last 8 years, however, the city has put in more than 50 industrial waste product disposal sites in our area. Those combined with the 5 household garbage dumps in the vicinity have BURNED and continue to BURN, without the use of any emission control equipment, tens of thousands of tons of industrial and ordinary waste. We are extremely concerned by the high levels of dioxin that are being produced in the burning process. Below are the results of some recent investigations: 1. In July 1996, Professor Miyata of Setsunan University studied the levels of dioxin in soil samples taken from Kunugiyama, the area where burning has been most concentrated. (Second study of dioxin levels in the Kunugiyama environs; soil sample taken July, 1996. Source: "Stop Dioxin Pollution!" Saitama Action Committee.) Unit to measure level of dioxin in the soil: pgTEQ/g Refer to figure-1 2. Dioxin Levels in the Atmosphere of Kunugiyama Tokorozawa Environs. Unit to measure level of dioxin in the atmosphere: pgTEQ/m3 Refer to figure-2 Tokorozawa Multi-purpose Exercise Ground, Tokorozawa Primary School Tokorozawa Park, Tokorozawa Aeronautical Park Survey Bureau Tokorozawa Citizens' Center 3.Chronological Table of Dioxin Survey/ Pollutants produced by the 5 Household Garbage Dumps Unit: ng-TEQ/NM3 Refer to figure-3 4. Volume of Burned Waste in Kunugiyama Tokorozawa Environs and Infant Mortality Rate in the Tokorozawa Area Refer to figure-4 Infant Mortality Rate from 1989-1994 Mortality Rate for Saitama Prefecture: (Volume of Burned Waste: capacity/tons daily) Mortality Rate for the Tokorozawa Area: As we can see from these figures, infant mortality rate in our area has risen as the volume of burned waste has increased. We live in this environment. Our children play in the parks near these dumps and burn sites. We eat the vegetables and drink the tea grown in Saitama and Tokorozawa. We drink and bathe in the water. 24 hours a day, every day, we breathe this air. We want to know what will happen if we keep on like this. The Japanese national government and the Tokorozawa City government tell us: Don't worry about it. The air and water in your area are perfectly safe. We want to know the truth. Is it safe? Is there really nothing to worry about? If anyone has ideas or experience with the same issue, please give us your advice! If anyone knows of resources or contact people who can help, please tell us. You can contact us at: info@pop17.odn.ne.jp Back to HOME