The national government on Tuesday appealed a recent court ruling ordering it to reduce emissions of so-called suspended particulate matter (SPM) to within environmentally acceptable limits in areas along National Route 23 in Nagoya.

The ruling also awarded money to those who claim to have been adversely affected by the pollution.

Justice Ministry officials said the government cannot accept the ruling because the drastic reduction of SPM emissions called for is unreasonable.

Environment Agency chief Yoriko Kawaguchi also told reporters the government found a "scientific problem in the correlation" between exhaust fumes and the health problems of residents living near the highway.

The Nagoya District Court on Nov. 27 ordered the state to pay 18 million yen and 10 companies to pay a combined 300 million yen to a group of Nagoya residents for damage to their health caused by air pollution. The companies, including Chubu Electric Power Co., agreed to settle with the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs in the suit, filed in March 1989, were among a total of 145 people living in the southern part of Nagoya officially recognized as patients of diseases caused by air pollution and families of deceased victims.

They had originally sought around 4.3 billion yen in damages from the state and the 10 companies.

The court recognized three plaintiffs' demands for compensation from the state and 110 plaintiffs' requests for compensation from the firms.

In their suit, the plaintiffs argued that the air pollution resulted from exhaust gas emissions of vehicles running on four state-managed roads in the region.

They also complained that thermal power stations and major factories operated by the 10 companies in an industrial area south of Nagoya emit smoke containing sulfur dioxide.

The nine other firms are Nippon Steel Corp., Toray Industries Inc., Aichi Steel Corp., Daido Steel Co., Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Toho Gas Co., Toagosei Co., Nichiha Corp. and Chubu Steel Plate Co.

"Serious health problems such as asthma and emphysema have resulted from many years of air pollution," the suit said.

Since 1972, when National Route 23 fully opened, residents living in areas within 20 meters of the road have suffered bronchial asthma resulting from SPM or have seen their conditions worsen, the court said.