The Pollution-related Health Damage Prevention Program

Transition from Individual Compensation to Prevention of Health-related Air Pollution Damage

After the introduction of the Compensation Law, the circumstances concerning air pollution have greatly changed. Heavy industrial pollution by sulfur dioxide has abated, although chronic urban pollution caused by automobile emissions has been increasing. But unlike the past, chronic lung disease cannot be thought to be attributed primarily to air pollution. Based on these circumstances, the Compensation Law was revised in 1987 and the designation for the area I was cancelled on 1 March, 1988.
However, it still cannot be denied that air pollution has some influence on the occurrence of chronic lung diseases. Therefore, strengthening and promotion of measures to prevent the occurrence of health-related air pollution damage is underway, and ERCA has been carrying out the pollution-related health damage prevention programs to protect the health of local communities.

Mechanism of the pollution-related health damage prevention program

ERCA pollution-related health damage prevention program is designed to promote the prevention of illnesses caused by air-pollution. ERCA supports the measures carried out by the central and local governments to reduce air pollution and protect the health of the community. The expenses of implementing the program are provided by the Pollution Health Damage Prevention Fund investment.

The pollution-related health damage prevention program is conducted by ERCA and the local governments that are subsidized by ERCA. The activities covered by the subsidy are those of 47 regions: 41 designated areas I and 6 regions certified as equivalent to the designated area I as in the figure.

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