Japanese defense ministry officials have detected two possibly toxic compounds at levels exceeding national guidelines near a US military base in Kanagawa Prefecture.
US Navy officials told the ministry on September 24 that they had mistakenly released an extinguishing agent containing the organofluorine compounds PFOS and PFOA into a pond.
The pond is linked to a river running through the US Naval Air Facility Atsugi.
Defense ministry officials examined two parts of the river outside the base. The compounds were found to be 3.6 times over the guidelines.
The Kanagawa prefectural government says US officials have since taken measures to treat the pond, such as releasing the water and cleaning the bottom.
Prefectural officials asked the defense ministry on Friday to prevent a similar incident from happening again. They also called for a thorough examination on the potential environmental impact.
Organofluorine compounds were previously detected in wastewater from the US Navy's Yokosuka base, also in Kanagawa.
US Navy officials told the ministry on September 24 that they had mistakenly released an extinguishing agent containing the organofluorine compounds PFOS and PFOA into a pond.
The pond is linked to a river running through the US Naval Air Facility Atsugi.
Defense ministry officials examined two parts of the river outside the base. The compounds were found to be 3.6 times over the guidelines.
The Kanagawa prefectural government says US officials have since taken measures to treat the pond, such as releasing the water and cleaning the bottom.
Prefectural officials asked the defense ministry on Friday to prevent a similar incident from happening again. They also called for a thorough examination on the potential environmental impact.
Organofluorine compounds were previously detected in wastewater from the US Navy's Yokosuka base, also in Kanagawa.
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Summary
US Military Base in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, mistakenly released toxic compounds PFOS and PFOA exceeding national guidelines into a pond linked to a local river. The Defense Ministry found these compounds to be 3.6 times over the guidelines at two tested sites. US Navy officials have taken
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ID: abeca0b1-9e9e-4d5d-b6d6-76ab03d94fce
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221022_01/
Date: Oct. 22, 2022
Created: 2022/10/22 08:42
Updated: 2025/12/09 12:29
Last Read: 2022/10/22 08:55