Elevated PFAS Chemical Levels Found in Water from 44 Private Suppliers Throughout Japan
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Tokyo, Dec 24 (NationPress) Elevated levels of potentially harmful PFAS chemicals have been found in tap water supplied by 44 private providers across Japan, including some serving the Japanese Self-Defence Forces facilities, according to reports from local media on Tuesday.
A government survey conducted in fiscal 2020 examined around 2,000 private drinking water suppliers nationwide, whose services cater to hospitals, schools, and other establishments, amid rising concerns regarding the health risks posed by these widely utilized and persistent substances that have already been identified in water treatment plants and rivers across the nation, as reported by Xinhua via Kyodo News.
The survey indicated that among the private water suppliers with elevated PFAS levels are the Air Self-Defence Force's Ashiya Air Base in Fukuoka Prefecture, which recorded a level of 1500 nanograms, the Ground Self-Defence Force's Camp Higashitachikawa in western Tokyo, which detected 343 nanograms, and the Fuchu Prison in western Tokyo, which recorded 204 nanograms.
Out of the 44 cases identified, 26 have already taken corrective actions, including transitioning to municipal water systems, the report stated.
PFAS is a broad term encompassing over 10,000 synthetic chemicals, including PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), which are the two most prominent types of PFAS.
The government currently establishes a provisional limit for these two chemicals at a combined total of 50 nanograms per litre for tap water and rivers.
Since this provisional limit is presently non-binding, the Environment Ministry has resolved to mandate regular testing of tap water and will legally enforce the 50-nanogram limit starting from April 2026, as indicated in the report.
This decision was validated during a meeting of the ministry's expert panel, which assessed the results of the nationwide survey.
Known as 'forever chemicals' due to their extreme resilience in the environment and human body, PFAS can accumulate over time, leading to potential health issues as they do not decompose.
