Suspected to be related to contaminated tap water, 40% of residents in Japan have abnormal blood tests | blood | blood tests
Japanese media reported on the 24th that a new survey showed that 40% of residents in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, had excessive levels of organic fluorine compounds in their blood, threatening their health. In 2021, groundwater from a local water supply station was detected to contain perfluorinated and perfluoroalkyl substances. Experts analyze that the reason for the abnormal blood tests of these residents may be due to drinking contaminated tap water.
The incident was located in Toyama cho, Aichi Prefecture, adjacent to the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) Xiaomu Base and Nagoya Airport. In 2021, the groundwater of Fengshan tap water supply station was found to be contaminated with perfluorinated and perfluoroalkyl substances, with a content three times that of Japan's provisional national standards, and the water supply was subsequently stopped.
After this incident was exposed, the citizen group "Fengshan Town Residents' Life and Health Protection Association" organized residents to participate in blood tests in June this year. The results showed that among the 54 residents who participated in the testing, 22 had excessive levels of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances in their blood, accounting for approximately 40%.
This result has made local residents feel uneasy. A resident who participated in the blood test said, "I am surprised by the high value and worried that it will have an impact on the children in Toyama cho."
Local residents asked Aichi County Government to find out the source of pollution and improve the relevant inspection and medical system. In response, Xiuzhang Omura, governor of Aichi County, said on the 24th that he would continue to investigate the public water use areas and groundwater, and pay attention to the relevant measures of the central government.
Associate Professor of Environmental Health at Kyoto University, Hiroshi Harada, who participated in the blood test and analysis, said that residents with abnormal blood tests may not immediately see the adverse effects on their bodies, but in the long run, there are health risks. To protect the health of local residents, it is necessary to identify the sources of pollution and monitor the concentrations of perfluorinated and perfluoroalkyl substances.
At present, it is not possible to determine whether the groundwater pollution in Toyama cho is related to the Japan Air Self Defense Force or Nagoya Airport.
Earlier this month, the US military stationed in Japan admitted that there was a leak of fire extinguishing agents containing perfluorinated and perfluoroalkyl substances at the Yokota base. Suspected to be affected by this, over half of the residents in the Tama area of Tokyo near this base were found to have excessive levels of perfluorinated and perfluoroalkyl substances in their bleeding fluid.
Perfluorinated and perfluoroalkyl substances are difficult to degrade and accumulate in the environment and human body, hence they are called "permanent chemicals". Some experts pointed out that if a large amount of polluted water is drunk for a long time, it may affect reproductive health and children's growth and development, and even cause diseases such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.