Shocking Water Quality Pollution Figures in Kamagaya City 240 Times and Settsu City 420 Times the Standard Value
In June, the Food Safety Commission of the Cabinet Office issued a warning that "effects such as low birth weight are observed in infants.
Japan’s water is in crisis due to the carcinogenic substance ‘PFAS.’
Values significantly exceeding national targets have been detected in various locations.
We report the chilling reality by gathering comprehensive information from experts and local governments.
Known as the ‘forever chemicals,’ the carcinogenic organic fluorine compounds ‘PFAS’ have become a nationwide social issue, contaminating water across Japan.
In groundwater from Kamagaya City, Chiba Prefecture, the levels are 240 times the national target, and in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, they are 420 times. The map below lists 51 dangerous locations with high PFAS detection. Residents living in the Karuizawa area of Kamagaya City speak with concern.
“My well is about 30 meters deep. Many people around here have been drinking well water since birth and using it for baths and farming. Hearing that high concentrations of harmful substances have been detected makes me anxious about my health.”
PFAS are used in a wide range of applications, including non-stick coatings for frying pans, waterproof sprays, and foam fire extinguishers. Developed in the United States since 1949, there are over 10,000 types of these chemicals closely tied to daily life, but they are said to have many health impacts when ingested by the human body. Akio Koizumi, Professor Emeritus at Kyoto University and an expert on PFAS issues, explains.
“When PFAS enter the body, they can remain for a long time, with some taking up to 40 years to be 95% excreted. They accumulate in the liver and kidneys, leading to negative health effects. Two types of PFAS, ‘PFOA’ and ‘PFOS,’ have been highlighted for their harmfulness. In December of last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic to humans. There are four well-established health impacts: 1) Reduced antibody response, such as decreased vaccine efficacy, 2) Dyslipidemia, 3) Growth retardation in infants and fetuses, and 4) Increased risk of kidney cancer.”
It has also been revealed that PFAS are being absorbed into the body. The ‘Osaka PFAS Pollution and Health Consideration Group’ conducted blood tests on 1,190 residents of Osaka Prefecture starting in September of last year. Yuriko Nagaoka from the group provides an explanation.
“Of the 459 people whose results have been determined so far, the average combined value of PFOA and PFOS is 14.9 ng per mL (nanograms, which is one billionth of a gram). The maximum value was 605.1 ng. Among the residential areas, residents of Settsu City had the highest levels. It is determined that a combined value of 20 ng or more for four types of PFAS indicates significant health risks, and 30% of the subjects exceed this level.”
