Regulatory Status of Silicones in Japan

In the 1950s, Japan experienced a period of rapid technical growth and modernization, and by 1970, it had the free world’s second-largest gross national product. During this period of urbanization and industrial development, a series of incidents provided the initial motivation to create a legislative framework for preventing pollution. This chapter outlines the various statutes, and describes the role of the Japanese Environment Agency to coordinate government and civilian efforts to prevent the release of hazardous substances to the air, water, or soil compartments of the environment. Also included is the scheme for chemical screening and safety evaluation for new and existing materials, with a discussion of environmental monitoring and risk assessment. Environmentally, silicones are of minimal concern in Japan.