January 22, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 18, the Okinawa Environmental Preservation Division announced the results of the summer water quality survey that was conducted last September in the areas surrounding U.S. military bases to assess organic fluorine compound (PFAS) contamination. The use and manufacture of PFOS and PFOA are regulated around the world. In residential groundwater in the area around Kadena Air Base, PFOS and PFOA were detected at a combined concentration of 3000 nanograms per liter. This concentration is 60 times the provisional guidance value (50 nanograms per liter) set by the Ministry of the Environment and the highest level recorded since the survey was first conducted in 2016. In the area around Futenma Air Station, as well, the chemicals were detected at a concentration of 2000 nanograms per liter in the natural spring Majikina Ga in Ginowan City. This is also a record high for the area.