Regarding PFOS and PFOA, which are organic fluorine compounds that have been pointed out to be harmful, the Ministry of the Environment held an expert meeting on the 24th to discuss target values ​​for water quality, referring to international standards. , Confirmed that consideration will be advanced toward the establishment of formal target values.

"PFOS" and "PFOA", which are organic fluorine compounds that have been pointed out to be harmful, have exceeded the provisional target values ​​one after another from rivers and groundwater around US military bases in Okinawa Prefecture and Kanagawa Prefecture. detected.



The Ministry of the Environment is taking measures such as adding it to the "designated substances" that need to be notified to the local government when discharged outside due to an accident, etc., but on the 24th, to consider the target value of water quality The first ever meeting of experts was held.



At the meeting, an opinion was expressed that Japan's provisional target value, which is stricter than the guidelines announced by WHO = World Health Organization, is appropriate, while the effects on health such as PFOS are still unclear. I was.



It was also confirmed that the current figures will be maintained for the time being, and that official domestic target figures will be considered in light of international developments, such as new WHO guidelines that are expected to be announced in the future.



In addition, at the meeting, opinions such as "further research to understand the effects of PFOS and other substances on health are necessary" were expressed, and in the future, it was decided that the toxicity of PFOS and PFOA should also be evaluated and examined. I'm here.

Values ​​exceeding the target value were detected even within the 23 wards of Tokyo

A survey by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government found that groundwater and tap water in Tokyo contain PFOS and PFOA.



In the survey, we measured whether there were any places that exceeded the national government's provisional target of 50 nanograms per liter. We are responding by doing.



According to the waterworks bureau of the Tokyo metropolitan government, during regular tap water inspections, 34 of the 277 wells managed by the metropolitan government in the Tama area, where the U.S. Army Yokota Air Base is located, including Tachikawa and Fuchu, Because it exceeded the target value, it means that water intake is stopped at this time.



A person in charge of the Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks Bureau said, ``It is important for us to deliver safe and secure tap water to residents, so we would like to continue to conduct thorough inspections and check and manage it.''



On the other hand, in a groundwater survey conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Environment Bureau in February last year, values ​​exceeding the target value were detected at survey points in 23 wards such as Shibuya Ward and Bunkyo Ward, in addition to municipalities in the Tama area.



An official of the Tokyo Metropolitan Environment Bureau said, "Not only around the base, but also in the 23 wards, it has been confirmed that local governments have exceeded the target value, and it is not possible to determine what is causing the detection. How much impact will it have on health? I would like to pay close attention to the country's discussions, including whether or not."

Residents of Tachikawa City "I'm worried about whether it will affect my health"

Residents near the U.S. Army Yokota Air Base in Tokyo have voiced their concerns about the lack of detailed information about organic fluorine compounds, which have been pointed out to be harmful.



According to a survey conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, in Tachikawa City, which is adjacent to Yokota Air Base, PFOS and PFOA, which are organic fluorine compounds that have been pointed out to be harmful, have been detected in well water and other sources in excess of the government's provisional target levels. .



Values ​​exceeding the government's provisional targets have also been detected near U.S. military bases in Okinawa and Kanagawa prefectures, but the metropolitan government says the relationship between organic fluorine compounds and Yokota Air Base is unknown. .



Sumiko Kobetsu, 77, from Tachikawa City, who has lived about 10 minutes on foot from the base for 32 years, said, "Water is an important lifeline that we use almost every day. I've been using it, so I'm wondering if it affects my health."



Regarding the fact that she does not know the connection with the base, she said, "I think it is difficult for Tokyo to enter the base and conduct an investigation due to the Japan-U. I want you to do it."