TOKYO, July 6 (Xinhua) — U.S. Yokota base in Japan’s western Tokyo space has acknowledged three incidents of leakage involving foam hearth extinguishers containing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a gaggle of natural fluorine compounds that elevate well being considerations, native media reported.
It marked the primary time that the U.S. army has acknowledged such leakage of froth hearth extinguishers at Yokota Base, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported.
The incidents befell in January 2010, in addition to in October and November 2012, and concerned leakage from storage containers and drums, in response to the news report.
The U.S. army claims that there was no recognition of any outflow outdoors the bottom, though they haven’t supplied detailed info relating to the quantity leaked, stated the newspaper.
The revelation got here to gentle by way of a liaison council consisting of the native authorities and municipalities within the neighborhood of the bottom, which acquired the data by way of the Ministry of Defense and made it public on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, the liaison council requested the nationwide authorities to conduct an investigation into the affect on groundwater, together with offering detailed info on the areas and portions of the leakage incidents.
In the Tama area the place the bottom is situated, elevated ranges of PFAS have been detected in some wells used for ingesting water.
While the extent of well being results brought on by PFAS continues to be not totally understood, a residents’ group performed blood checks on 650 residents beginning in 2022, and amongst them, 55 people exceeded abroad requirements thought-about indicative of well being dangers by way of PFAS focus.
The leakage incidents at Yokota base raised considerations amongst native residents and authorities relating to potential groundwater contamination and its affect on public well being.
Further investigations and measures are anticipated to deal with this situation and make sure the security of the affected areas.