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Chemical Substance Management
Various chemical substances are handled at Astellas as raw materials or reagents. Leakage of chemical substances causes environmental pollution when emitted into the environment, and causes safety problems when workers are exposed to high concentrations. Consequently, appropriate management of chemical substances and the reduction of hazardous chemical substance emissions are regarded as an important task for both environmental conservation and ensuring safety.
Therefore, numerical targets are set for the reduction of the emission of hazardous chemical substances that are used in large amounts. The Company also implements assessment from the research and development stage of new products as a safeguard against environmental pollution, work-related injuries and health damage, and promotes research on “green chemistry”* production such as the development of production methods that do not use high-risk chemical substances and production processes that use an absolute minimum of chemical substances.
*"Green" Chemistry
This refers to the production of useful chemical products by designing materials and reactions to minimize the use of harmful compounds and eliminate the release of these chemicals into the environment. Technologies and research that eliminate the creation of pollutants not simply remove hazardous materials through incineration, are attracting a great deal of attention.
Measures to reduce atmospheric emission of chemical substances
Currently, a plan for the reduction of formaldehyde and chloroform emitted into the atmosphere is in effect.
Formaldehyde is mainly used for sterilization in the production of such items as injectable solutions. We are reviewing the sterilization processes that use formaldehyde and introducing equipment to eliminate atmospheric releases.
Chloroform is mainly used by our research departments. We have decided to introduce equipment in the new tower at our Miyukigaoka Research Center which prevents the release of atmospheric emissions. Thus, emissions are expected to be reduced once this tower commences operation.
Atmospheric emissions of formaldehyde
Atmospheric emissions of chloroform
Reducing emissions of VOCs*
At Astellas, none of our facilities are subject to mandatory reporting on VOCs as set forth in the Air Pollution Control Law. However, we have been voluntarily implementing measures to reduce emissions.
By reducing volumes used and introducing equipment to cut atmospheric emissions, we aim to lower VOC emissions by fiscal 2015 to a level that is more than 25% below the fiscal 2006 level.
VOC emissions
*VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds
VOCs is a generic term for chemicals that evaporate easily into the air. Produced in the atmosphere by the reaction of certain chemicals to sunlight, VOCs are one of the causes of air pollution by suspended particulate matter and photochemical oxidants. High-emission facilities must report to the appropriate authority.
PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) survey
Chemical substances covered by the PRTR system* are those that are recognized as potentially harmful to people and the eco-system. A total of 354 substances have been identified thus far. Through a PRTR survey, the legislators expect that each company has confirmed its PRTR emissions, and has specified the amount for transfer. Therefore, companies are expected to voluntarily undertake improvements required for the evaluation and management of these chemical substances.
The amount of chemical substances covered by the PRTR Act emitted to the environment has been reduced significantly at Astellas, because the division that used dichloromethane for production (the former Osaka Plant) was closed in March 2006.
Emissions of Class 1 designated chemical substances under the PRTR system
*PRTR system
PRTR system is a registry of the amounts of potentially harmful chemicals released into the air, land, or water, and the amount released as waste material. Chemical substances designated by the PRTR system are defined, in Japan, by the Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Release to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management. The registry is created and then submitted to the central government.
PCB*-contaminated waste material
Astellas stores PCB waste at eight business establishments. The waste will be disposed of in a planned manner from now on, in accordance with the progress of the PCB waste disposal business.
State of PCB-contaminated waste storage
| Classification | Category | Number or volume | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stored | Condensers | 237 | |
| Electric current breakers | 1 | ||
| Fluorescent lamp ballasts | 7,119 | ||
| PCB-contaminated oil | 2 | L | |
| High-voltage transformers | 24 | ||
| PCB incrustation | 2 | kg | |
| In use | Fluorescent lamp ballasts,transformers | 232 | |
*PCB(Polychlorinated Biphenyl)
This is the common name of a group of chemical compounds formed by two benzene rings with 1 to 10 chlorine atoms attached. There are 209 different varieties depending on the number and location of the chlorine atoms. The compound is hard to break down when exposed to heat, which makes it a superior electrical insulator, and it is often used in heating media and condensers. Waste materials (including PCBs) that have been identified as having harmful effects, and those whose production was suspended are stored by local governments and businesses as stipulated by law.
