Current

(Uploaded 7.7.2002)

Current Activities

The Chemical Society of Japan

1. Promotion of Public Understanding: (1) Environmental Symposia/Seminars for the Public
Seminars were held in 2001 on PCB-related regulations, management of chemical materials, PRTR regulations, "sick house" syndrome, automotive diesel issues, and in 2002 on soil contamination. Researchers and the press were invited as lecturers, and discussions were held on global warming, solutions to environmental issues, Green Chemistry, and safety management of chemical materials. Some 200 members of the public attended. Other seminars and their titles are:
· Symposium "Environment/Safety Education for the 21st Century"
· Environmental Education Saturday Forum on global warming, Green Chemistry, endocrine disruptors, journalism and environmental issues, deforestation, water pollution, environmental risks, dioxin problems, atmospheric pollution, sulfur in the environment, life cycle assessment, etc.
· Seminar "Issues on Animals for the 21st Century"
· Second Environment and Chemistry Seminar "Recycling and the Society"
· Seminar "Our Environment---Safety of Air/Water/Soil"
· Symposium "Dioxin and Endocrine Disruptors---Regulations and Protective Measures/Recycling and Recovery of Oil by Carbonaceous Materials"

(2) Roundtable Discussion for Environmental Issues
These panel discussions are held twice a year to as widely as possible seek opinions and ideas from government agencies, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government; industry, including the Japan Chemical Industry Association, the Japan Automobile Society, and the Japan Electric Industry Society; media, including the Asahi, Nikkei, and Mainichi newspaper groups; and academic organizations and individuals.

(3) Publications
The successive Committees have edited environment/safety-related pamphlets and distributed them among the members as well as to governmental agencies, and published the following books: "Notes on Chemical Safety", "Frank Discussion on Global Warming," "Guide for Risk Communications in Handling Chemicals,","Safety Guide for Chemical Experiments," "Green Chemistry" (translation), "Dioxin and Environmental Hormones," and "Collective Loss Prevention Guide."

2.Environmental Education: (1) Safety in Universities
With the implementation of the Pollutant Release and Transfer Registration (PRTR) Act, universities are held responsible for the safe handling of chemicals. In addition, in 2004 all national universities reformed into Independent Administrative Institutions, requiring them to abide by the Industrial Hygiene and Safety Law to ensure environmental safety and risk management.
In view of this, the CSJ organized the following symposia to discuss the future roles played by these universities:
2001: "Environment and Safety Education at Universities"
2002: "Environment and Safety Management Required of Universities"

To enhance the level of environment/safety education in universities and to educate the staff and students to more adequately recognize safety issues, symposia are held at the CSJ Headquarters and at the Branches.

(2) Risk Communication
The CSJ, as a contractor for government agencies such as the Ministry of Environment and METI (Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industries), carries out studies in areas such as risk communication and handling of chemical materials, and the training of environment/safety personnel.

(3) Preparation of Teaching Materials for Universities
In 2000, freshmen from 140 universities were surveyed for their awareness of 60 environmental keywords; 13,697 students responded. The results were summarized and made available to interested people including the press. A second survey was carried out in 2002. The results are reflected in textbooks on the environment for undergraduates, which were published in 2003.

3.Promotion of Green / Sustainable Chemistry