Dioxin Contamination Case in Obihiro - April 1998

Dioxin Contamination Case in Obihiro - April 1998

According to an investigation by Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, high levels of dioxin were detected in milk produced in the area surrounding a waste incineration plant in Obihiro, Hokkaido. In particular, milk collected from a dairy farm within 5 km of the incineration plant was found to have concentrations far exceeding the environmental standard of 1 pg-TEQ/g. The main cause of this contamination was the generation of large amounts of toxic dioxin due to repeated incomplete combustion at low temperatures at a waste incineration plant in Obihiro City over a long period of time.

The "Obihiro Environmental Recycling Center Inc." which operated the incineration plant was found to have been releasing toxic substances, including dioxin, since the 1980s without installing the latest incineration technology and equipment. As a result, contamination spread to agricultural and livestock products in the surrounding area, causing serious health problems for local residents and farmers. Respiratory diseases, especially among children and the elderly, have become common, and many residents have complained of health problems.

In 1998, the affected residents filed a class action lawsuit, demanding compensation from the company operating the incineration plant. This incident prompted the Japanese government to strengthen measures against dioxin in waste incineration plants. It required technological improvements to incinerators and stricter control of combustion temperatures, and mandated that municipalities and companies throughout Japan strictly adhere to environmental standards. Regulations to prevent environmental pollution from waste incineration have also been significantly strengthened.