Tokyo Bay, Osaka Bay, and Nagoya Port - 2023 Microplastic Pollution in Japan

Tokyo Bay, Osaka Bay, and Nagoya Port - 2023 Microplastic Pollution in Japan

In Japan, high concentrations of microplastic contamination have been confirmed in coastal areas such as Tokyo Bay, Osaka Bay, and Nagoya Port. Up to 30,000 pieces per square meter have been detected in Tokyo Bay, 20,000 pieces per square meter in Osaka Bay, and 15,000 pieces per square meter in the Port of Nagoya. The main constituents are polyethylene and polypropylene, which are food containers and packaging materials that have deteriorated. At the Ports of Yokohama and Kobe, the spillage of industrial pellets from Sumitomo Chemical, Mitsubishi Chemical, and other companies is believed to be part of the cause. In the Yodo and Arakawa Rivers, several hundred tons of plastic waste are discharged into the ocean annually via the rivers, and pollution from households and factories has been pointed out. The Ministry of the Environment has enforced the Law for Promotion of Recycling of Plastic Resources, and measures are being taken, such as Kao and Shiseido's adoption of biodegr
adable plastics, but the problem of incineration rates of over 70% remains.