Water pollution has decreased in general
according to a recent report of the Ministry
of the Environment. In particular, toxic
substances designated as health-risks and
controlled by Environmental Quality
Standards (EQSs) (e.g. substances such as
cadmium and cyanide) have decreased
remarkably to levels that meet the EQSs
requirements almost everywhere in Japan.
Dissolved organic pollutants (largely from
domestic sewage and other waste waters)
remain a problem, however, with high
levels of dissolved organic pollutants
measured in enclosed water bodies such as
bays, coastal seas, and lakes.4