Air pollution levels around the nation remained little changed in 1998 from the year before, with nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants known to cause respiratory disorders still a problem in major cities, according to an Environment Agency report released Tuesday.
Nitrogen dioxide levels exceeded the government-set environmental standard at air monitoring stations in 14 prefectures, with the most transgressions reported in the Kanto and Kinki regions, the annual report on the nation's air pollution situation says.
In the two urban areas, targeted under a special 1992 law to bring their nitrogen dioxide air pollution levels in line with environmental standards and the rest of the country, only 74 percent of general air monitoring stations, such as those located in residential areas, and 35 percent of roadside air monitoring stations met the recommended level of less than 0.06 parts per million.