“Harmful” chemical substance PFAS ripples in various places November 24, 20:52
There are a series of cases in which a certain chemical substance, which has been pointed out to be harmful, has been detected in Japan.
Organic fluorine compounds = PFAS.
This substance is also called a "forever chemical" because it rarely decomposes in nature.
It has the property of repelling water and oil, and was once used in a wide range of applications such as non-stick cooking utensils and waterproof clothing. Regulations on production and use have been promoted mainly.
PFAS is now being detected one after another in and around US military bases in Japan, raising concerns among residents.
(Good Morning Japan Director Satoru Watanabe / Okinawa Broadcasting Station Reporter Akihide Nishibayashi / Yokohama Broadcasting Station Reporter Yu Furuichi)
PFAS commander apologizes from Yokosuka base
Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, where the US Navy base in Japan is located.
Yokosuka Mayor Katsuaki Uechi, who visited the base in October, expressed his indignation, saying, "The relationship of trust with the US military has been greatly damaged."
The trigger was the detection of a chemical substance called PFAS that was confirmed one after another at the wastewater treatment facility on the base.
Admiral Carl Ratty, who met with the Navy, apologized for the unusual protest from Yokosuka City, saying, "I'm very sorry. I'm reflecting on it."
What is “eternal chemical” PFAS?
PFAS = organic fluorine compounds is a general term for organic compounds in which elements such as carbon and fluorine are combined, and includes thousands of substances such as PFOS and PFOA.
Since the mid-20th century, it has been used in various products such as Teflon-coated frying pans, food packaging, and waterproof clothing, as it repels water and oil and is resistant to heat.
It is also used in foam fire extinguishing agents used in aircraft fires, etc., and it is known that foam fire extinguishing agents containing PFAS have been used in US military bases in jet aircraft accidents and training.
In the past, extinguishing foam has leaked from tanks or accidentally been released in large quantities outside the base.
However, since 2009, the manufacture and use of some PFAS has been phased out by international treaties, as high concentrations of PFAS may be harmful to the human body.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), certain levels of PFAS can cause the following health effects:
▽Increased risk of some cancers such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer
▽
Influence on reproduction such as hypertension in pregnancy ▽
Increase
in cholesterol level and risk of obesity
Decreased immunity due to vaccine reactions, etc.
In addition, the fact that only a few of the thousands of PFAS compounds have been studied for their hazards and the many ways people can be exposed to PFAS makes it difficult to accurately assess their health effects. It is also pointed out that it is a substance that is difficult to trace.
In addition, PFAS is called a "forever chemical" and has the characteristic of accumulating in the body and in the natural world without being decomposed.
Currently, each country has established standard values for tap water, rivers, and groundwater.
There is no legal regulation in Japan, and the government has indicated the concentration that should be the upper limit as a provisional guideline value for tap water and the environment.
Up to 258 times the provisional guideline value “Cause is under investigation”
PFAS was first confirmed at Yokosuka base in May this year.
Bubbles were found in the wastewater treatment facility, and as a result of investigation by the US military, PFAS exceeding the provisional guideline value indicated by the Ministry of the Environment was detected in some of the wastewater.
Since the wastewater normally flows into Tokyo Bay, the US military reported to Yokosuka City that PFAS may have flowed out of the base.
Since then, we have confirmed that the water from the wastewater treatment facility has exceeded the provisional guideline value, with a maximum of 12,900 ng per liter (258 times the guideline value) detected so far.
The U.S. military says, "The cause has not been identified," but on November 1, they installed a filter that absorbs PFAS in the wastewater treatment facility.
What about the impact on the ocean?
Anxiety of fishermen
"It's a frustrating thing," said
Kazuhiro Komatsubara, 50, who runs a fishery in the city.
Since the PFAS problem at the Yokosuka base was reported, he has taken a strong interest in it, including scrapping newspaper articles.
Mr. Komatsubara has been diving and fishing for clams in the Yokosuka sea for three generations.
Since the fishing grounds are very close to the base, I would like the government to take responsibility for investigating whether there is any impact on marine products.
Kazuhiro Komatsubara, fisherman:
“My grandfather and father dived in the sea, and I inherited it, so I want to protect this sea. I don't want to blame them too much, but I would like to know how long PFAS has been flowing into the ocean and how much of an impact it has on the ocean.
Yokosuka City Independent Seawater Survey
After the problem was discovered, Yokosuka City started its own seawater survey.
Every month, seawater is sampled at seven locations around the base, including near the wastewater treatment facility, to check the concentration of PFAS.
So far, no values exceeding the provisional guideline value have been confirmed.
We plan to continue the investigation.
Yusuke Miyaji, Chief of the Yokosuka Municipal Base Policy Division
"I think it is important to continue to conduct seawater surveys around US military bases in order to ensure the safety and security of citizens."
Yokosuka City will soon apply to the United States for an on-site inspection based on the "Environmental Supplementary Agreement" agreed between the Japanese and U.S. governments, in order to confirm the effectiveness of the U.S. military's PFAS countermeasures, such as filters installed in wastewater treatment facilities. decided to
On the other hand, regarding the survey of marine products requested by Mr. Komatsubara, "It is difficult for the city to conduct a survey in the absence of PFAS standards for marine products. If we get together, I would like to consider making a request to the government."
US military bases PFAS detections in various places...
Cases of high concentrations of PFAS being detected in US military bases have occurred in various places.
In January this year, at the Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture, it was found that the pipe used to flow the fire extinguishing agent containing PFAS was damaged, and about 760 liters of water was leaking.
A subsequent survey of the base found PFAS concentrations up to 42 times higher than the provisional guideline value.
Furthermore, in September, firefighting foam containing PFAS was accidentally released into the reservoir at Atsugi Air Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Concentrations exceeding three times the provisional guideline value have been detected in the river within the base connected to the reservoir.
Even “outside the base”… the situation in Okinawa is getting worse
Under these circumstances, there are areas where PFAS has already been detected one after another "outside the base".
About 70% of the U.S. military facilities in Japan are concentrated in Okinawa Prefecture.
High concentrations of PFAS have been detected in rivers and springs around the bases in the prefecture, and even tap water at one point.
According to the latest survey released by Okinawa Prefecture in June this year, 33 out of 47 locations exceeded the provisional guideline values set by the government.
The highest was 1,600 ng/l (32 times the provisional guideline value) in the rivers around Kadena Air Base.
This situation has continued since the survey began in 2017.
PFAS is also in the body ... Blood test of residents near the base
With high concentrations of PFAS detected in the water around us, it seems that PFAS has already entered the human body.
A citizens' group with such doubts, "The Liaison Committee for Protecting Citizens' Lives from PFAS Pollution," began conducting blood tests on 387 people, including those living around the base, from June this year, and announced the results in October. Did.
The results were shocking.
When blood concentrations of three PFAS substances, including PFOS, were examined, the highest level was 110.9 ng/ml and the average was 21.3 ng/ml in five municipalities around the base, including Ginowan City and Chatan Town. It means that it was detected (* Total value of 3 compounds such as PFOS and PFOA).
This is three times the average value (7.1ng/ml) of the nationwide survey conducted by the Ministry of the Environment in 2021.
In addition, Germany, the only country in the world to set blood concentration standards, has PFOS: 20ng/ml and PFOA: 10ng/ml. It was a level
A representative of the citizens' group said, ``It is clear that the base is the reason for the high PFAS values of the residents,'' and calls for the government to embark on a larger-scale survey.
Anxiety about health damage spreading around the base
Residents have voiced their concerns about the health hazards.
Den Tokuda (67) lives in Chatan Town.
He has lived near Kadena Air Base for over 30 years.
A total of 24.9 ng/ml was detected in Mr. Tokuda's blood.
Although it was below the standard value in Germany, it was 3.5 times the national average.
Mr. Den Tokuda:
“I was surprised when I saw the numbers.
Mr. Tokuda says that he has always been careful about his water intake and has been drinking mineral water.
On the other hand, considering the economic aspect, it is not possible to use mineral water for cooking such as simmered dishes and soups, and there is no choice but to use tap water.
Mr. Den Tokuda
"I was conscious about drinking water, but even I have a certain number, so I feel uneasy that there will be no health damage in the future. I will change the way I use water as much as possible. I think it would be better to use water, but there is a limit as a consumer that I can't even if I want to, and I have to rely on tap water. I think the only thing we can do is raise our voices as residents to get them to take measures to overcome the problem.”
Anxiety about the future Thoughts of the child-rearing generation
Mino Gushiken, 44, who lives near the Futenma base and is raising three children, has changed her drinking water to mineral water since the PFAS problem came to light so that her children would not be affected. Or I wiped the water droplets of the washed water bottle clean.
This time, Ms. Gushiken's results were low, but she says she cannot shake off her anxiety about raising children in this area in the current situation where a drastic solution to her problem is not planned.
Mino Gushiken:
"This time, I thought I was safe because my numbers were low, but when I thought that my relatives and neighbors might have high numbers, I easily said I was relieved. I have mixed feelings about whether it's okay.It's very foggy and makes me feel sick.I wonder how long it will last.First of all, I want the pollution source to be identified, and I want the people who polluted to clean the pollution source.That's really it. ”
“U.S. military bases in the background? Thorough investigation”
What do experts think about the results of this blood test?
This is Associate Professor Koji Harada of the Graduate School of Kyoto University, who was requested by a citizen group to analyze the collected blood.
Koji Harada, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
“Unless there is some kind of pollution source unique to this region, the phenomenon of blood concentrations higher than the national average is unlikely to occur. In the past two or three years, it has become clear that it has been detected in the groundwater around military bases and facilities by using chemical agents. PFAS was also detected in this river, which is one of the sources of water intake.It is speculated that PFAS is seeping out from the base through the soil, and the high concentration in the blood of the residents and the presence of the base I think it's related."
Mr. Harada points out that in order to solve the problem in the future, it is necessary to understand the actual situation with a larger blood test and to thoroughly investigate the surrounding environment.
“PFAS is a substance that is very difficult to decompose, so once it is contaminated, we have to think about the contamination for decades. There are probably many people who are unknowingly ingesting PFAS. , I think there are places where contamination has not been clarified yet.We need to investigate more deeply.And there is a possibility that more serious hazards are hidden in PFAS, so compared to Europe and the United States, We need to quickly develop countermeasures that are lagging behind.”
To identify the cause Okinawa Prefecture asks for on-site investigation
The US military responded to NHK's interview, "It is important to understand that PFAS is contained in industrial products around the world, and it is difficult to investigate and evaluate the true source of PFAS." .
So far, the US military has acknowledged PFAS spill accidents that occurred inside the base, but has not acknowledged the relationship outside the base.
On the other hand, Okinawa Prefecture has requested an on-site inspection many times to identify the cause and try to solve the problem, saying that "the US military is likely to be the source of the pollution."
But it never materialized.
Why can't I enter the base?
The existence of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement is a barrier for Okinawa Prefecture.
The agreement stipulates the status of US forces in Japan, and Japanese authorities require US military permission to enter bases.
The Status of Forces Agreement also includes provisions for environmental investigations, but the cases are limited, as it states, for example, that "an accident (leakage) that affects the environment has actually occurred."
There is a high possibility that simply saying "a high concentration of PFAS has been detected in the water around the base" will not be the subject of an investigation.
What actions are required in the future?
In fact, the U.S. military has taken measures such as investigating the tap water around the base in the United States and announcing the concentration of PFAS.
The Japanese and U.S. governments are also required to cooperate in investigating areas surrounding Japanese bases and take responsibility for resolving the issue.
Associate Professor Koji Harada of Kyoto University Graduate School points out that it is important for the government to set clear standards for PFAS first.
Currently, regarding the evaluation of PFAS concentration in tap water, rivers, etc., the government only provides "provisional" guideline values and target values, and there are no clear standards.
The Ministry of the Environment said, "We will consider revising as necessary based on the latest scientific knowledge in Japan and overseas." It's a factor that I can't get out," he points out.
I would like to continue reporting on how our society will face "eternal chemical substances".
Ohayo Nippon Director
Kakuto WatanabeJoined in
2015
After working at the Fukuoka Bureau, etc., current
position Covering environmental issues such as defoliants and PFAS
Okinawa Broadcasting Station Reporter
Akihide Nishibayashi Joined the station
in 2015.
Responsible for Okinawa prefectural government since 2020, covering issues such as US military bases in Japan.
Yokohama Broadcasting Station Reporter
Yu Furuichi Joined the station in
2010
After working at the Osaka Station and the Science and Culture Department, he currently works at the
U.S. Navy Yokosuka Base.