Every country has their regulation when it comes to chemical circulation. There are certain chemicals that are allowed for use and others that are not. In Japan, the regulation is no exception. As industry grows more advanced in this country, the use of chemicals in it also grows bigger and wider. The government has to provide list of safe or prohibited and restricted list of chemicals from Japan. Here is the list of prohibited and restricted list from Japan:
- Mercury
Mercury is among the internationally banned chemical in the world due to its toxicity. However, it is not to be refuted that the mercury is very useful for industry. It plays role in chemical reaction, certain product production and many more.
However, mercury has the potential to bioaccumulate in environment. Any organism who consume foods containing mercury will start to store mercury. The mercury later added up to the higher food chain, causing extinction and population imbalance.
Moreover, the mercury can also cause health problems from internal organ damage, to cancer. That is why this chemical is banned.
- Sarin
Sarin has a significant impact in Japan chemical enforcement history. This deadly chemical was once a weapon a cult use to eradicate those who do not follow the cult order. This homicide acts definitely make Sarin, chemical that can kills you, an enemy of Japan. Even though research and military purpose of Sarin may still allowed by the government, Sarin is prohibited for civilian use.
This chemical has several deadly effects such as urination followed by gastrointestinal distress, internal pain and eventually death. To avoid further casualty, Japan prohibits Sarin for civilians use.
- Glyphosate
Japan has rich plantation and rice is one of their main commodities. Therefore, the use of pesticide is on a wide range of use. As in the case with many pesticides, expert identified glyphosate as having possible hazard.
The main reason why glyphosate as pesticide posses danger is because research found it to be possible carcinogen with 2A class. It means it is highly carcinogenic just like other carcinogenic pesticides. People exposed to it may experience some symptoms of cancer before malicious cells develop within their body. The type of cancer is also not limited from lung cancer to breast cancer.
- Trichloroethylene
Another prohibited and restricted list from Japan is trichloroethylene. Trichloroethylene is industrial solvent from halocarbon compound. It is a colorless liquid once used for anesthetic and other uses. Therefore, this chemical was a beneficial medical compound for analgesic as well.
What makes this chemical dangerous is the waste of it in nature. Contamination of Trichloroethylene in groundwater and industrial discharge can expose nature and living organisms to several hazards. One of the most serious cases is people developing tumor and cancer by continuous consumption of contaminated water. As this chemical is not a digestible compound, it disturbs cell growth and trigger malicious one. Because of this risk, many countries prohibits and withdraw this chemical for public use including Japan.
- Polychlorinated Biphenyl
One of prohibited chemicals in Japan is polychlorinated biphenyl. Polychlorinated Biphenyl is a compound from chlorine originate. PCB was a popular chemical with many benefits in industry until several cases of problem related to PCB. Before the ban announcement, PCB often found in cooler and is reliable one due to its longevity.
However, it is very toxic and insoluble that it can harm environment. There is also a chance that it will bioaccumulate through organism and harm the food chain. Further study even identified PCB as carcinogen, which means this chemical turns out to be deadly. Therefore, the production of PCB declined as many countries ban PCB.
- Vinyl Chloride
The next chemical no longer allowed in Japan is Vinyl Chloride. Vinyl Chloride is organochloride derivate. It is an important element in the production of PVC. PVC itself is a major plastic element in which most of plastic production has PVC in it.
As it is already known, PVC, a hazardous substance in plastic is non degradable material. It is insoluble within soil. Moreover, when it reacts to hot temperature, it can leak dangerous substances that should not enter any organism body. Vinyl Chloride if entering human body can cause internal organ damage, thyroid disruptor and many more. The deadliest hazard of this compound is carcinogenic tendency in which people exposed to it often have shorter life span due to developing cancer in early age. This is why Japan among other countries ban Vinyl Chloride.
- Cadmium
Cadmium is among element in periodic table. The chemical has symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This compound is a toxic chemical only used in heavy industry. Uses of cadmium ranges widely from color additive to chemical reactor. What makes it even more dangerous is some irresponsible people use it for food coloring when it should only applies to textile. Thus, it expose human to health hazard more than it should be.
Workers exposed to cadmium reported to suffer from some pulmonary problem from pneumonia, lung damage, to terminal lung illness. Most of the reason why inhalation is because many factory workers inhale this substaance during working. Once or twice exposure may not affect that much but long term exposure definitely can lead to health problems.
- Triclosan
A chemical that people still debating about is triclosan. Triclosan is once widely used in hygiene and personal care products to kill bacteria. Even some of the products stated triclosan as their main ingredients. However, there is a possibility that this chemical has more hazard than the benefit.
A study on triclosan applied to mouse resulted in the object developing some signs of cancer. Moreover, killing bacteria effect of triclosan also kill good bacteria and lower immune system. The thyroid system that regulates immune system is also in danger cause triclosan may disrupt it.
Conclusion
Seeing how dangerous those chemical can be, Japan issued regulation of restricted and prohibited chemical to avoid misuse of it and to warn people to be more aware similar to List of Banned Chemicals in Australia.