PFAS-haltiges Wasserleck: Japanische Behörden führen Inspektion auf dem US-Luftwaffenstützpunkt Yokota durch

A potential issue involving the leakage of water containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are organic fluorine compounds, has led Japanese authorities to carry out an inspection at the U.S. Yokota Air Base in Japan.

At 9:00 AM on the 20th, officials from the Japanese government, including representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and local authorities from Fussa City and surrounding areas, entered the base for an inspection.

PFAS are chemicals commonly found in firefighting foam and do not naturally break down in the environment. They have been linked to harmful effects, such as cancer and developmental issues in children.

In October, the U.S. military confirmed that during heavy rainfall in August, approximately 47,000 litres of contaminated water, including PFAS-laden firefighting foam, likely overflowed from a reservoir at Yokota Air Base, potentially spilling outside the base.

In response to this, Japanese authorities coordinated with the U.S. side to enter the base for an inspection. They conducted a tour of the area around the firefighting training zones and received an explanation from U.S. officials regarding the situation.