Let's learn about chemical substances

Everything on Earth is made of chemical substances. Both natural and human-made products are chemical substances.
By using the useful properties of chemical substances, we have made our lives more convenient and enriched our lives.
On the other hand, incorrect use may have a negative effect on humans, animals and plants.
The possibility that chemical substances released in the environment, such as air, rivers, and the sea may have a negative effect on humans, animals and plants is called the "environmental risk" of chemical substances.

Here are some of the things we want to keep in mind when using products that use chemical substances.

Protect the usage amount displayed on the product. It does not use more than necessary, reduces the amount taken into the body and reduces emissions into the environment.

When using paint or insecticide indoors, ventilate and reduce the amount taken into your body.

Read the product label carefully and follow the precautions when using it. For example, products that have the label "Dangerous to Mix" may generate highly harmful chemicals if used incorrectly, but by observing the precautions in use, you can prevent them from occurring.

In recent years, soft finishers with various fragrances have been released, and the number of people who add their favorite scent to their clothes has increased, but the way they feel the scent varies from person to person. Please understand that some people complain of discomfort, even if the scent is comfortable for you, but feel a strong scent around you. (so-called "frame damage")
Please use it while referring to the estimated amount of usage and other factors.

• Awareness poster (Consumer Affairs Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of the Environment) (outside site)
• Information on the smell of softeners (Economic Affairs Bureau)
• Sick House Countermeasures (Medical Care Bureau)

　Risk communication is called risk communication when citizens, businesses, and governments share information on chemical substances and communicate through exchange of opinions. Yokohama City provides information on chemical substances measures to citizens and businesses through events and seminars to promote risk communication.

• Risk Communications (external site)(Ministry of the Environment)

　Yokohama City holds seminars on chemical substances and the environment in cooperation with Kawasaki City.

• Seminars on Chemical Substances and the Environment (FY2024)
• Past Seminar results

We introduce factories in Yokohama, which are engaged in environmentally friendly initiatives.
Please check with each plant for the status of the tour. Please also refer to the website of each factory posted on the flyer.

• Flyer_Let's go to an environment-friendly factory! （PDF：2,612KB）

We have released videos to help you easily learn about chemical substances.

Chemical Substances and Environmental Risks (PDF: 1,697KB)
What is the PRTR? （PDF：1,438KB）

　The PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register: Chemical Substance Emissions and Transfer Register) is a mechanism to grasp, collect and publish data on whether a wide variety of harmful chemical substances were discharged into the environment, or included in waste. This is a mechanism to grasp, tabulated, and publish data on whether it was carried out outside the business site.
　For more information about PRTR, please see the link below.

• What is PRTR?
• Yokohama City PRTR count results

Here are some experiments that can be easily done at home. Let's have fun learning about the nature of chemical substances.
Please refer to the link below.

• 【Y-Labo】 Let's learn about the environment of Yokohama in video!

• Freon species
• Dioxins
• Measures against asbestos