ＰＭ２・５汚染 中国の排出源対策が急務だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun March 05, 2014
Press China to take measures against its horrendous pollution
ＰＭ２・５汚染　中国の排出源対策が急務だ（3月5日付・読売社説）

Air pollution is becoming ever more serious in China. It is mainly caused by a high density of particulate matter 2.5, or PM2.5, which is apparently reaching Japan on a massive scale after sweeping over the sea.
　中国で大気汚染が深刻の度を増している。主因の微小粒子状物質（ＰＭ２・５）は、海を越えて日本にも大量に飛散しているとみられる。

Immediate measures must be taken to curb PM2.5. There is no time to waste.
　ＰＭ２・５の発生を抑える対策は待ったなしである。

PM2.5 is the general term for the microparticle substances with a diameter of up to 2.5 micrometers (one micrometer is equivalent to one-thousandth of a millimeter). Their size is about one-tenth that of a grain of Japanese cedar pollen, and they can travel deep into the lungs once inhaled. Experts say that PM2.5 causes such diseases as asthma and bronchitis.
　ＰＭ２・５は、直径２・５マイクロ・メートル（１マイクロ・メートルは１０００分の１ミリ）以下の物質の総称だ。スギ花粉の１０分の１ほどの粒子で、吸い込むと肺の奥まで入りやすい。ぜんそくや気管支炎などの原因になるとも指摘される。

At one point on Feb. 26, the concentration of PM2.5 exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter of air in Beijing. In Japan, local governments issue alerts to the public if the daily average amount of PM2.5 exceeds 70 micrograms per cubic meter. Beijing’s figure shows how serious China’s air pollution has become.
　北京市では２月２６日、ＰＭ２・５の大気中濃度が、１立方メートル当たり５００マイクロ・グラムを超えた。日本国内で自治体が住民に注意喚起をする濃度は７０マイクロ・グラムだ。中国の汚染の深刻さが分かる。

The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, a public research organization, has warned that Beijing’s pollution is “approaching a level unsuitable for inhabitation.” Air pollution is also becoming acute in cities and regions other than Beijing.
　公的研究機関の上海社会科学院は、北京の状況について、「居住に適さないレベルに近づいている」と警告した。北京以外の地域でも汚染が悪化している。

The rapid increase of PM2.5 is caused by soot produced when burning coal, as well as vehicle emissions. Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled around smog-covered Beijing and ordered factories to curb their use of coal. Xi also ordered regulations for car usage.
　ＰＭ２・５急増の原因は、石炭を燃やす際に生じる煤煙(ばいえん)や自動車の排ガスだ。習近平国家主席は先月、濃霧の北京市内を視察し、工場での石炭使用の抑制や自動車の利用規制などを指示した。

Ineffective measures

The Chinese government has periodically announced measures to tackle air pollution, but no significant improvement has been seen. We believe the reason for this is that many factories have ignored government regulations, putting short-term profits ahead of environmental issues.
　中国政府はこれまでも、大気汚染対策の実施を表明してきたが、大きな改善はみられない。多くの生産現場が、環境問題よりも目先の利益を優先し、規制を無視してきたということだろう。

The National People’s Congress was set to convene Wednesday, and air pollution is likely to be one of the main issues on the agenda. We urge the Chinese government to take this opportunity to come up with comprehensive measures to deal with the problem.
　５日に開幕する全国人民代表大会では、大気汚染問題も重要テーマになる見通しだ。抜本対策に着手する契機としてもらいたい。

From now on, Japan and South Korea will have to bear the full brunt of PM2.5 sweeping from China as westerly winds become stronger.
　日本や韓国が中国からのＰＭ２・５の影響をもろに受けるのは、偏西風が強まるこれからの時期だ。

On Feb. 26, the day China’s PM2.5 concentration exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter, the particulate concentration rose in wide areas of western Japan and the Hokuriku region, prompting 10 prefectural governments to issue alerts.
北京の汚染濃度が５００マイクロ・グラムを記録した同じ日、西日本と北陸などで濃度が上昇し、１０府県が住民に注意を促した。

Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara said the main cause of the phenomenon was “transborder pollution caused by China.”
　石原環境相は、主な要因に「中国からの越境汚染」を挙げた。

It will be crucial for the Environment Ministry and local governments to continue providing prompt detailed information on PM2.5 to the public.
　環境省と各自治体は今後とも、住民にきめ細かい情報を迅速に提供していくことが重要だ。

Of course, the issuance of alerts does not mean that people are under immediate threat to their health. We urge people to act calmly, refrain from going out unless necessary and avoid opening windows or using ventilators.
　注意喚起がなされたからといって、直ちに健康被害の危険があるわけではない。不要不急の外出を控える。窓の開閉や換気は最小限にとどめる――。住民は冷静な対応を心がけてほしい。

People who have respiratory or heart problems, as well as elderly people, should especially be careful of their health. The physical conditions of children should also be monitored frequently.
　呼吸器や心臓に病気がある人や高齢者、子供の体調管理には、十分に留意せねばならない。

This month, officials from Japan, China and South Korea will hold a policy dialogue to discuss measures to deal with the PM2.5 problem in Beijing. It will be an important opportunity to share PM2.5 data, but it is also essential to pressure China to reinforce measures to curb emissions of the microparticle substances.
　日中韓の担当者は今月、ＰＭ２・５対策を協議する政策対話を北京で行う。観測情報を共有するほか、中国に対し、排出抑制策の強化を求めることが肝要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5, 2014)
（2014年3月5日01時29分  読売新聞）