Illegal Release of Chemical Substances in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture - 2003

Illegal Release of Chemical Substances in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture - 2003

In 2003, a company in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, illegally discharged chromium and mercury exceeding standard values into the Tsurumi River, causing water pollution and mass fish deaths. Furthermore, the companies falsified discharge concentration data, and the local government and the Ministry of the Environment are considering fines of up to 50 million yen and criminal penalties. In response to this incident, Yokohama City has increased the number of surveillance cameras and the frequency of water quality monitoring, and the Ministry of the Environment plans to strengthen regulations.