More than half of the residents in a Tokyo area have abnormal blood tests, and the US military base is suspected of "poisoning" Tama | fluorine compounds | region
The tap water source in the Tama area of Tokyo, Japan is suspected to be contaminated by US military bases and has been detected to contain potentially carcinogenic organic fluorine compounds. A survey released by a citizen group on the 8th showed that over half of the local residents have excessive levels of organic fluorine compounds in their blood, posing a threat to their health.
According to Japanese media reports, a water quality survey in 2019 showed that a water purification facility in Kokubunji City, Tama Prefecture, Tokyo detected organic fluorine compounds with levels more than twice the national standard in Japan. In a survey in 2018, an organic fluorine compound was detected in a well water in Lichuan City, located in the east of the Yokota base of the US military, with the content up to 27 times of the Japanese national standard. The culprit was suspected to be the foam extinguishing agent used in the US military base.
On October 12, 2019, the water level of the Tama River in Japan significantly increased, and the river was turbid. Xinhua News Agency/Kyodo News Agency
"There is no doubt that Yokota Base is the main source of pollution," said Hiroshi Harada, an associate professor of environmental hygiene at Kyoto University. He pointed out that if a large amount of contaminated water is drunk for a long time, it may affect reproductive health and children's growth and development, and even cause breast cancer cancer, prostate cancer and other diseases.
Regarding the issue of tap water pollution in the Tama region, a civic group called "Exposing Organic Fluorine Compound Pollution in the Tama Region" organized local residents from various cities, towns, and villages to participate in blood tests. This group said on the 8th that out of 650 people surveyed, 335 had excessive levels of organic fluorine compounds in their blood, which is about 2.4 times the national average in Japan.
This group plans to further monitor the well and river water in the Tama region, while demanding that the central and local governments of Japan take corresponding measures.
Local residents are concerned about the health issues that may arise from tap water pollution. A resident in his 70s with abnormal blood test results said, "The pollution is getting worse and worse. Can tap water still be drinkable? Will future generations be able to drink such water with peace of mind?"
The US military base in Japan has been repeatedly exposed for "poisoning" in Okinawa and other places, suspected of contaminating land and groundwater. However, due to the Japanese claim that they do not have the authority to enter the US military base in Japan for investigation, residents around the contaminated areas can only swallow their pride.