PFAS levels found to exceed gov't cap in 22 of Japan's 47 prefectures
Potentially harmful PFAS chemicals have been detected at high levels in rivers and groundwater across 22 of Japan's 47 prefectures, a government survey conducted in fiscal 2023 showed Friday.
The survey, which covered approximately 2,000 sites in 39 prefectures, found that PFAS levels exceeded the government's provisional cap of 50 nanograms per liter in 242 locations. The highest level was detected in groundwater in Settsu, Osaka Prefecture, at 26,000 nanograms per liter, or 520 times the upper target.
PFAS is a general term for a group of over 10,000 artificial chemicals that include PFOS, or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid. They are used in various products, such as frying pan coatings and water-repellent clothing.
There is currently no concrete evidence of adverse health impacts from PFAS, although some researchers have warned of potential effects, including an increased risk of cancer.
Of the 242 sites where high PFAS levels were found, 42 sites across nine prefectures showed levels above the provisional cap for the first time and 97 locations had previously exceeded the cap and remain under monitoring, while 103 sites were those close to locations which exceeded the cap in past surveys and monitored to identify the extent of past contamination.
PFAS contamination is frequently detected near factories, U.S. military bases, and Japan Self-Defense Forces facilities. The Environment Ministry, however, has not disclosed the specific testing sites.
Local governments have identified the source of contamination in only four cases, including Kibichuo, a town in Okayama Prefecture, where disposed activated carbon was determined to be the cause.
At sites where the polluted water had been used for drinking, authorities have already taken measures such as switching water sources or restricting consumption.
Other areas where high levels were detected included groundwater in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, at 15,000 nanograms per liter, a river in Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture, at 4,600 nanograms, and groundwater in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, at 2,200 nanograms.
The data was compiled based on studies conducted by the ministry as well as local government-led investigations. Eight prefectures did not provide responses to the voluntary survey.
While high PFAS levels were detected in 111 sites across 16 prefectures in the previous study in fiscal 2022, the ministry noted that direct comparison was difficult due to differing survey conditions.
Related coverage:
High levels of PFAS chemicals found at Japan defense force facilities
Japan inspects U.S. base in Tokyo over possible PFAS chemical leak
PFAS chemicals detected in 20% of Japanese tap water in gov't survey
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
a day ago
Shiokara: Japan's Salty, Fermented Seafood
Building Blocks: The Basic Ingredients Behind Japan's Flavors The rich umami flavor of shiokara (most commonly salted, fermented squid) is an acquired taste, but devotees say that it goes perfectly with either rice or an alcoholic beverage. The Wisdom of Preserving Food Through Fermentation Shiokara is a fermented food, made by salting raw seafood and then letting it ferment naturally through the action of enzymes and microorganisms. While some say this way of preserving seafood was introduced into Japan from China during the Nara period (710–94), it is also possible it was developed independently. A surreal story included in the Konjaku monogatari, a collection of tales from the late Heian period (794–1185), tells of a man who, wanting to scare away tax collectors, feeds them especially salty shiokara and when they become thirsty, he serves them spoiled sake, which gives them diarrhea. From this, it would appear that preserving food through salting and fermenting was already a widespread method by this time. If it's Shiokara, it Must Be Squid! Shiokara, in its broadest sense, is the 'salted, fermented flesh and viscera of fish and seafood', but as squid is the most popular type of seafood preserved using this method, it tends to be what people think of first. Akazukuri ('red' shiokara) is the most common and is made by salting and fermenting the body and liver of the squid together. The rich flavor of the liver gives it a tantalizing taste. (© Pixta) When the liver is omitted and only the body of the squid salted and fermented, it is called shirozukuri ('white' shiokara), and has a refreshingly refined taste. (© Pixta) One more type of squid shiokara is kurozukuri ('black' shiokara), a local delicacy of Toyama Prefecture, in which squid ink is added to create a striking pitch-black appearance. Squid ink is full of umami compounds, giving it both a rich appearance and flavor. (© Pixta) Some people who love alcohol say that if they have good quality shiokara they can drink to their heart's content, but it is delicious served on freshly cooked rice too. Others use it in the same way as anchovies, another salted, fermented seafood, by adding it to pasta and stir-fries. A standard dish at Hokkaidō izakaya is shiokara jagabatā, a rather unusual combination of shiokara with buttered, steamed potatoes. The salty shiokara and creamy butter go well with the hot, fluffy potato. (© Pixta) (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: Squid shiokara on freshly cooked rice. © Pixta.)
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Japan Today
Gov't to use AI to help teach Japanese to kids with foreign roots
The Japanese government plans to promote the use of generative artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to support the teaching of the Japanese language to children with foreign roots, sources close to the matter said Thursday. Guidelines are expected to be drawn up to utilize generative AI for effective teaching methods for other subjects in addition to Japanese, amid a shortage of staff who can accommodate the native tongues of varying languages such as Portuguese, Chinese and Spanish. The education ministry plans to include related expenses in its budget request for fiscal 2026 starting next April to complete the guidelines within the year at the earliest, the sources said. There were around 69,000 students who required Japanese language instruction enrolled in public elementary, junior high and high schools and special needs schools as of May 2023, the highest number since the survey began in fiscal 1991, according to the ministry. But around 10 percent of the students are not receiving Japanese language support in-class or after school. The education ministry plans to develop a system that incorporates translation apps powered by generative AI and online teaching into schools, aiming to provide high-quality education regardless of the students' background. The guidelines will not only outline teaching methods for Japanese and other subjects, but also the measures necessary for schools to smoothly accept students with foreign roots into schools. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will also conduct research on effective collaboration between teachers, Japanese language instructors, and native language support staff. It also plans to expand budget requests from fiscal 2025 to subsidize local governments to hire such language instructor and support staff and hold guidance programs to promote school enrollment for foreign children who are not attending school. © KYODO
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
New Mineral Amaterasuite Named After Japanese Goddess; Dark Green Stone Includes Strontium, Titanium, Chlorine
A collaborative research team of scientists from the University of Tokyo, Yamaguchi University and other institutions has discovered a previously unknown blackish-green mineral in a jadeitite specimen from Okayama Prefecture. The team announced on Aug. 7 that the mineral was named Amaterasuite, after Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess in Japanese mythology. The new mineral is expected to contribute to studying a previously unknown jadeitite formation process. Small amounts of the new mineral were found in a jadeitite collected around Mt. Osa in Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, according to the research team. The team analyzed the mineral's elements and structure at facilities such as SPring-8, a synchrotron radiation facility operated by Riken, a national research and development agency. They found that the mineral consists of strontium, titanium and chlorine, possessing a unique structure previously unseen in other minerals. The International Mineralogical Association has officially recognized Amaterasuite as a new mineral. These findings were published in the Japan Association of Mineralogical Sciences' academic journal. Jadeite has been treasured in Japan since ancient times and is sometimes called the 'Jewel of the Orient.' In 2016, the association selected jadeite as Japan's national stone, symbolizing the nation's stone culture. The mineral forms where tectonic plates subduct. However, the exact process of its formation is not fully understood. 'By examining the elements and morphology of the new mineral, we can gain clues about how it transformed in a subduction zone where tectonic plates sink,' said Tohoku University Prof. Tatsuki Tsujimori, who specializes in geology and petrology.
