Ishihara Sangyo Conceals Toxic Gas Production

Tsu, Mie Pref., May 15 (Jiji Press)–Japanese chemical maker Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha Ltd.’s in-house investigations have found that one of its plants was involved in unlicensed production of a toxic gas that can be used for chemical weapons.

The unauthorized gas production is among seven cases of unjustifiable acts discovered at the plant, in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, according to Ishihara Sangyo.

The Osaka-based company conducted the investigations in March this year as scandals emerged successively after illegal dumping of industrial waste came to light. Company officials were arrested in 2006 for the waste dumping.

Ishihara Sangyo said that in 2004, the company built a facility at the Yokkaichi plant to make the toxic gas called carbonyl chloride, also known as phosgene. But company executives did not report the production plan to the authorities because they feared opposition from the plant’s neighborhood.

Phosgene is designated as a hazardous substance by a law banning chemical weapons. For annual production of 30 tons or more of phosgene, the law obliges manufacturers to submit reports on the planned amount of production and output results.

However, the Yokkaichi plant produced a total of 170 tons of phosgene between February 2005 and October 2006 without making necessary reports to the authorities.

The in-house investigations also found that industrial waste has been illegally buried at the site of the Yokkaichi plant. The company said the waste’s impact on neighboring areas is now under investigation.END

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