2023 Volume 33 Issue Special_Issue Pages s2-s10
This paper, at first, outlined the photochemical oxidant pollution of the atmosphere caused by various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), defined as "organic compounds that are gaseous when emitted or dispersed into atmosphere", the major causative substances and mechanisms of the pollution, and the oxidant generation capacity, which is used to comprehensively understand the combined effects of various VOCs. The history of VOC emission regulations in Japan, the concept of setting emission standards, and the monitoring by using the total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were also outlined. In addition, the status of self-motivating action by industries were outlined. Since FY2005, when the VOC emission control regulation was introduced, VOC emissions in Japan have been steadily decreasing, far exceeding the initial target (30% reduction from FY2000 levels by FY2010).
