Abstract
Since the Industrial Revolution, the development of modern industries has brought about a lot of environmental pollution by the wastes, and the human environment has been polluted. In Japan, pollution problems occurred in the big cities where industries and population were extremely integrated through high economic growth after 1955. We clarified here the kinds and the actual situation of pollution and the relation between pollution and regional structure in Kitakyushu City.
While air and water pollution and land subsidence are mainly found in the western Japanese cities, the former two types of pollution were especially noticeable in Kitakyushu City as follows;
1. Air pollution
Remarkable pollutants are sulphur oxide (the average in the city is 0.933mg/100cm2/a day, the maximum amount is found in June, the minimum is in October) and falling dust (the city average is 15.4t/km2/a day, the month maximum or minimum occurs are contrary to that of sulphur oxide). There is no distinguishing inclination in floating dust and other pollutants. They are concentrated at the crowded industry area located along the coast of the Sea of Hibiki. Many plants of chemistry, iron and steel, and electric power exhaust a great quantity of sulphur oxide. In such extremely contaminated places as Shiroyama in Yawata and Okidai in Tobata, pollution is one of social problems. However, their amount of sulphur oxide and dust does not exceed the provisional levels established as for human environment by the Agency of Environment.
2. Water pollution
The water pollution is mainly noticed in rivers and sea water. In Kitakyushu, sea water in Dokai Bay and the sludges at the bottom are remarkably polluted by arsenic, organic phosphorus and total mercury, and cadmium, arsenic cyanide (30ppm) and lead (1, 869ppm) included in 3 meters depth respectively. The amount of each pollutant of the former exceeds the standard value of the environmental level. Much pollutants of the latter are contained particularly in the depths of the bay extending over the center and the southern part. They comes from oil slicks from the vessels, industrial and municipal drainage.
3. Relation between pollution and area
Pollution brings about various problems to cities. It finally injures the inhabitants' health. Kitakyushu City has the increased number of asthmatic-like disease patients of juvenility. On the other hand, pollution makes citizens' complaints and representations increase.
Administrative authorities are requested to establish more strict standard of pollution and countermeasures.
