滝本 匠 
July 13, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Shugo Asato
On July 12 the Okinawa Prefectural Environmental Preservation Division announced that a total of 20 chemical substances of which use is prohibited within Japan, such as the organic fluorine compounds PFOS/PFOA and DDT, as well as one type of component used in ammunition were detected in the groundwater in the surroundings of the land that is planned for return to Okinawa and that lies south of Kadena Air Base.
In the years 2019-2021, the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) has conducted water quality surveys of the groundwater in the surroundings of Camp Kuwae (Camp Lester), Camp Zukeran (Camp Foster), Futenma Air Station, and Camp Kinser. Multiple substances prohibited for use within Japan were detected at all of these sites during each of these years.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Preservation Division explained that, "The contamination status of the land that is planned for return to Okinawa and that lies south of Kadena Air Base was surveyed, and [this status] serves as fundamental data for requesting cleanup from the central government following the return." However, aside from PFOS/PFOA, none of the substances are included among items requiring monitoring under environmental standards related to water quality. Therefore, according to the spokesperson, "we are not at a stage where we can evaluate" to what extent these substances are harmful to the human body.
These surveys were conducted using lump-sum grants. As concerns substances prohibited for use within Japan, 16 varieties were detected at 10 sites in 2019, 16 varieties were detected at 14 sites in 2020, and 19 varieties were detected at 15 sites in 2021. As concerns ammunition components, one variety was detected at one site in 2020, and one variety was detected at four sites in 2021.
The OPG will conduct surveys in 2022, as well. Conducting similar surveys in areas that are not in the surroundings of military bases and then comparing and contrasting the results is being considered for implementation in the future.
The measured substances are considered to be harmful to the human body, as designated under the Act on the Regulation of Manufacture and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (the Chemical Substances Control Act), and therefore the use, manufacture, and import of these substances are prohibited. Experts selected varieties from among these substances in reference to substances detected at former military base sites within the United States.
The varieties and amounts of the substances detected in these surveys can be checked on the Okinawa Prefectural Environmental Preservation Division homepage, below. https://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/kankyo/hozen/press/r1-3_kititokuyuu_bushitu.html
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
