世論 What Japan Thinks

A recent very detailed survey from the Cabinet Office Japan looking at chemical substances in the immediate environment found that, as is the case in English, “chemical substances” is a scary word, despite of course everything being made out of chemical substances, and there’s dangerous natural chemical substances and perfectly safe man-made ones as well as vice versa.

Demographics

Between the 17th and 27th of June 2010 3,000 members of the general public aged twenty or older selected at random from resident registries were approached for face-to-face interviews. 1,942 peope, or 64.7%, completed the interviews; the non-interviewed included 383 refusals, 367 not in at the time, 118 had moved, 74 people were away from the home for a long period of time, 48 addresses were unclear, and 68 people were not available for other reasons. 51.4% of the sample were female, 8.8% in their twenties, 14.3% in their thirties, 17.3% in their forties, 19.0% in their fifties, 24.1% in their sixties, and 16.5% aged seventy or older. Furthermore, 14.4% only completed elementary or middle school, 44.0% high school, 41.1% had attended or were currently attending university, and 0.5% didn’t answer.

Note that in Q8, since this survey is conducted face-to-face, and older people are more heavily-represented since there is more chance of finding them at home (although sometimes not quite able to answer questions…), the internet appears relatively low in the list.

Research results

Q8: In the future, from where would you want to find out information about chemical substances in your immediate environment? (Sample size=1,942, multiple answer)

Television	73.5%
Newspapers, magazines	68.9%
Product labels, instruction leaflets	61.2%
Internet	35.4%
National, local public bodies, public facilities enquiry desk	27.8%
Pamphlets	21.0%
Radio	17.6%
Industry, industry bodies enquiry desk	16.0%
School education	15.5%
Books	11.3%
Symposiums, lectures, university and research centre events	9.9%
Libraries	5.6%
Science museums	4.5%
No particular information I want	1.7%
Other	0.4%
Don’t know	0.4%

Q9: For the following products, the first time you buy a particular brand, etc, do you check the label, instruction leaflet for certain ingredients, usage warnings, etc? (Sample size=1,942)

Drinking water, foodstuffs

Yes, always	44.0%
Usually	25.4%
Not usually	14.0%
No	16.1%
Don’t know	0.4%

Medicines

Yes, always	51.3%
Usually	23.5%
Not usually	10.8%
No	13.8%
Don’t know	0.6%

Fertilisers, insecticides, insect repellents

Yes, always	49.1%
Usually	22.7%
Not usually	12.3%
No	14.3%
Don’t know	1.7%

Daily use items

Yes, always	27.7%
Usually	26.5%
Not usually	23.2%
No	22.2%
Don’t know	0.4%

Q10: Regarding products you consume and use in your daily life, how do you think about the various factors regarding information on chemical substances on the labels, instruction leaflets? (Sample size=1,942)

They are easy to read

Think so	8.5%
Perhaps think so	18.8%
Perhaps don’t think so	39.9%
Don’t think so	28.4%
Don’t know	4.4%

Information contained is easy to understand

Think so	5.4%
Perhaps think so	17.4%
Perhaps don’t think so	43.2%
Don’t think so	28.8%
Don’t know	5.3%

Information contained is sufficient

Think so	4.3%
Perhaps think so	17.1%
Perhaps don’t think so	37.9%
Don’t think so	31.5%
Don’t know	9.2%

Q11: Regarding chemical substances in your immediate environment, which of the following kinds of information may you particularly want to obtain? (Sample size=1,942, multiple answer)

The harmfulness of chemical substances contained within items used, consumed in my daily life	68.6%
The harmfulness of chemical substances present within human bodies	61.9%
What kinds of chemical substances are contained within items used, consumed in my daily life	52.6%
How to safely and appropriately use, dispose of chemical substances contained within items used, consumed in my daily life	51.8%
What kinds of chemical substances are present within human bodies	51.1%
The harmfulness of chemical substances present within water, atmosphere and soil	37.5%
What kinds of chemical substances are present within water, atmosphere and soil	33.7%
Nothing in particular	5.4%
Other	0.2%
Don’t know	1.5%

Q12: Regarding Japan’s measures for chemical substances, a plan is currently being produced describing how related entities both inside and outside of the country should interact with related govenment entities. To formulate this place, if there was the opportunity to express your opinions, desires, etc via the internet, discussion groups, etc, would you want to participate? (Sample size=1,942)

Want to participate	14.3%
Don’t want to participate, but want to find out the investigation results	69.2%
Don’t want to find out the investigation results	13.3%
Don’t know	3.2%

Finally, the respondents were shown this text:

In Japan, the production, use, disposal, etc of chemical substancesis regulated and data gathered on the harmfulness of chemical substances. However, in developing countrues, the use of chemical substances is spreading but appropriate measures are not being taken. Not just health of the people, animals and plants in the developing countries are affected, but also products made from harmful chemical substances are entering Japan, and environmental pollution spreads out across national borders.

Q13: In order to develop international standards for chemical substance handling, what do you think Japan needs to do? (Sample size=1,942, multiple answer)

Share chemical substance safety information between Japan and developing countries	64.4%
Proactively nurture governmental and private employees in developing countries	50.8%
Introduce Japanese regulations and standards into developing countries	46.1%
Promote the introduction of chemical substance handling, safer product development techniques to developing countries	45.3%
No particular cooperation or help is needed	1.9%
Other	0.4%
Don’t know	7.4%