Toho Zinc Resale of hazardous metal scrap Used in gardens and parks Gunma Aug. 10 13:50
Metal scraps containing lead and arsenic that exceed the national environmental standards from the zinc smelter in Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture were resold and used as gravel for residential gardens, etc. The company that operates the smelter apologizes to the residents and decides to recover and remove it.
The smelter is operated by Toho Zinc, a Tokyo metal manufacturer listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
According to the company's explanation, Toho Zinc is a multiple contractor under the condition that metal scrap called "slag" from the zinc smelter in Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture is used as a road paving material. This included that the lead contained approximately 100 times as much lead and arsenic as several times the maximum environmental standards stipulated in the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law.
When the company conducted an internal survey, the slag that was resold to another construction company was used as gravel in at least dozens of places such as the gardens of residential houses and park parking lots in the prefecture. As a result, the company apologized to the residents on the homepage and decided to proceed with recovery and removal of about 7 billion yen.
Toho Zinc General Affairs Department commented, “We want to address the concerns of the local people as a top priority and strive to restore confidence.”