Alarming levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid PFOS and other substances are detected in spring water in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Photo taken on March 25, 2021 Asahi Shimbun file photo The central government will discuss strengthening measures against cancer-causing organic fluorine compounds that have been detected around factories and U.S. military bases.
It will start a health impact assessment on food and increase water quality management standards.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS repel water and oil and have been used in various products.
They have been referred to as carcinogens in the United States since about 20 years ago.
Restrictions on PFAS have been tightened overseas as well.
The PFAS are so widely used in the world that they are still found in soil and underground water.
In 2021 the Japanese government banned the manufacturing and use of perfluorooctane sulfonate PFOS and perfluorooctanoate PFOA, which are typical PFAS and are often found in products such as paint and non-stick cookware coating.
In fiscal 2021, PFOS exceeded the target value were found in 81 locations in 13 prefectures.
For example, in Okinawa Prefecture, a high concentration of PFOS was detected in the area near U.S. Kadena Air Base and U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
The Okinawa prefectural government has asked the U.S. side to allow officials to enter the bases to conduct an on-site investigation.
According to an Environment Ministry official, how seriously the U.S. military takes countermeasures is important.
The S. Status of Forces Agreement has been a barrier in some of the cases.
Under the agreement, the U.S. military is obliged to respect Japanese laws or ordinances.
If it is translated into domestic law, it means that the Japanese government can urge the U.S. side to act.
Strengthening PFAS measures would push contamination regulation forward for areas around the U.S. bases.
In 2022, high concentrations of PFOS were detected at an effluent treatment facility at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.
PFOS and PFOA exceeding the target value have been detected in underground water and well water in the Tama region of western Tokyo, as well as Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Osaka and Oita.
Factories, airports and U.S. bases are believed to be the source of the contamination.
They do not easily decompose in nature, giving them the nickname forever chemicals. The government set a temporary target value of 50 nanograms per liter of water for PFOS and PFOA in 2020 to not negatively affect one s health when drinking 2 liters of water every day.
There is not enough scientific knowledge regarding the harmful effects of the substances, so the value is not a basis for any legally binding restrictions.
In January a joint meeting of the Environment Ministry and the Health Ministry began that will discuss the issue, using recent scientific knowledge and international trends as a reference.
If a standard is set, the government can use that to regulate businesses discharging water under the Water Pollution Prevention Law.
The Food Safety Commission is going to investigate the health effects of PFAS in food. In fiscal 2023 it will conduct a toxic assessment.
An Environment Ministry official said there was not enough scientific knowledge about the health effects of PFAS, making the discussion difficult.