Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 28th, according to Japanese media reports, around the US military base in Japan surrounding the detection of high concentrations of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances, Okinawa County Government is scheduled to set up a special committee on the 28th to study the impact of such chemicals on human health and discuss relevant countermeasures.

All-fluoride and polyfluoride-based substances that are difficult to resolve, will accumulate in the environment and human body, and are known as "permanent chemicals".A survey released in Okinawa County in May this year showed that of the 46 inspected sites around the US military base, 28 sites in the water body of such substances are over-limited, the U.S. military base is highly likely to be a source of pollution.

Another survey released in 2023 showed that among the 387 residents living around the U.S. military base in Okinawa and participating in blood tests, 155 had excessive levels of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances in their blood, accounting for about 40%. Among the seven regions participating in the survey, the proportion of residents with abnormal blood test results in 2 regions exceeded 60%.

In response to the above situation, the Okinawa Prefectural Government is scheduled to form a committee composed of public health experts, epidemiologists, clinicians, etc. on the 28th and hold its first meeting. The committee will conduct research on the impact of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances on human health and discuss countermeasures.

Okinawa county governor Yoshiaki Dany said he would consult with the Japanese central government and relevant departments to decide whether blood tests will be carried out on all county residents.

Similar incidents have also been exposed to other U.S. military bases in Japan. From 2010 to 2023, there were at least seven leaks of sewage containing perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances at the Yokota base in Tokyo, but the US military denied all of them. In October last year, the US military reported that sewage containing such substances in the base's reservoir might flow out of the base during the August heavy rain, triggering strong indignation from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. (Zhang Jing)