Tokyo medical community demands fluorine pollution probe, points to US military bases

Japanese medical institutions have called for nationwide testing of organic fluorine compounds in residents' blood, urging the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Japan's central government to identify pollution sources and enhance cleanup efforts following multiple incidents and rising health concerns among Tokyo residents.

At a press conference held on Thursday, representatives from various medical institutions warned that many residents have high concentrations of organic fluorine compounds in their blood, posing significant health risks.

"The concentration of organic fluorine compounds exceeding 20 nanograms per milliliter in the blood can pose health risks. In four tests of organic fluorine compounds, 27.5 percent of people have exceeded the level. Therefore, I believe the pollution of organic fluorine compounds in the Tama area of Tokyo is a significant issue," said Yasuhiko Hasuike, director of the social insurance organization department at Social Medical Corporation Kenseikai.

Medical institution representatives stated that they submitted suggestions and requests regarding this issue to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on the same day. However, the government's response was vague, and no detailed explanations were provided on the methods for pollution cleanup.

Masato Matsuzaki, executive director of Social Medical Corporation Kenseikai, expressed his concerns.

"The Tokyo Metropolitan Government stated that the central government of Japan has not disclosed any information regarding the health hazards caused by organic fluorine compounds. Therefore, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government claimed it could not do much, leaving our questions unanswered and consistently showing a passive attitude. This concerns the health of Tokyo residents, yet the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has not shown a proactive stance, which I believe is a very serious issue," said Matsuzaki.

Last November, Tokyo Shimbun reported that as of January 2023, 1.4 million liters of water contaminated with organic fluorine compounds were stored at the U.S. Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, distributed among seven storage tanks on the base.

One of these tanks contains 950 liters of contaminated water, with an organic fluorine concentration exceeding 180,000 nanograms per liter. This is more than 3,600 times Japan's provisional safety standard for organic fluorine content in groundwater and rivers, which is 50 nanograms per liter.

The report cited a U.S. military source as saying that the water in these storage tanks was originally intended for mixing with organic fluorine-containing firefighting foam concentrate in the event of a fire. However, due to equipment issues, the concentrate flowed back into these storage tanks, causing the contamination.

"The primary sources of organic fluorine compound pollution are likely the bases of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military stationed in Japan. In fact, multiple incidents of firefighting foam leaks have occurred at the U.S. Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, making it very likely that these bases are the largest sources of such pollution in Tokyo. Although the long-term health hazards of organic fluorine compounds remain unclear in many respects, the World Health Organization considers them to have the same carcinogenicity as asbestos and dioxins," said Kyota Negishi, chairperson of Tokyo Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions (Tokyo Min-iren).

"Residents' concerns about health are increasing. Regarding the issue of U.S. military bases, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's current stance has been that this is a matter of national security handled by the central government, which they do not involve themselves in. However, given the health threats to Tokyo residents, we hope the Tokyo Metropolitan Government can do as much as possible or urge the central government to take relevant actions. An investigation into the U.S. military bases must be conducted," Negishi added.

Among the 111 locations that exceed the national provisional standards announced by the Ministry of the Environment, the concentration of organic fluorine compounds in the groundwater in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, has exceeded the national provisional standard by 420 times, reaching 21,000 nanograms per liter.

The ministry added that in 98 percent of these locations, the pollution sources could not be confirmed.

Tokyo medical community demands fluorine pollution probe, points to US military bases

Grassroots officials and students who teamed up with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the voluntary tree planting activity in Beijing on Thursday morning said afterwards they would commit more energy to protecting their country's natural heritage and greening efforts.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by other Party and state leaders as they joined residents and local officials on the bank of the Yongding River in Beijing’s Fengtai District to plant saplings.

Xi waved to the crowd as he arrived at the site before picking up a shovel to help plant saplings of several different types of tree.

Xi took time to ask students from local schools about their studies, life and participation in labor and sports.

"We came here today to participate in this tree planting activity. What surprised us was that President Xi also took part. He worked alongside us, digging and building up the soil around the saplings. He has always been concerned about our lives and studies, and he encouraged us to work and study hard," said Lyu Shuochen, a student from the Fifth Primary School in Fengtai District.

"President Xi is very knowledgeable and understanding. He also encouraged us plant more trees to improve the air quality and the environment," said Gu Weichen, another student from the school.

During the event, Xi also talked with local grassroots officials, discussing the importance of preserving the nation's natural heritage.

"Every year, [the general secretary] takes part in the tree planting activity in the capital. He shovels the soil and waters the trees, which are truly touching. As environmental builders, we are determined to work together to make areas along the Yongding River greener and make the water clearer, so that local people can safely enjoy the riverside and truly understand the significance of ecological preservation," said Ding Hongwei, deputy director of the Fengtai District Yongding River Management Office.

"For us, participating in the tree planting activity with the general secretary is a vivid practical lesson in grassroots governance. Today, the general secretary also stressed that [environmental efforts should focus on] improving quality, boosting industry and benefiting the people. For us as community workers, it means we must deeply engage in the grassroots affairs. We need to strive for growth and do practical things to provide support for the residents and the people around us," said Qian Cheng, Party secretary of Tianlun Jincheng community in Beijing's Fengtai District.

"In addition to building the capital into a garden city, we also integrate the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature into our daily life and work. We hope to create a better environment for everyone," said Lin Qiaoling, a Party committee member in Caoqiao Village, Yuquanying Subdistrict in Fengtai District.

Encouraged by Xi, the environmental champions at the site pledged to actively engage in public welfare activities, joining forces to contribute to the building of a Beautiful China and making the country even greener.

"President Xi told us while we were watering the saplings that watering the trees is like nurturing us children. I will follow what President Xi said. I want to become a teacher to educate and nurture others, and sow the seeds for them to grow their talents," said Wang Nanbixuan, another student from the school.

"As a primary school student in the capital, I am committed to planting more trees, working harder, and adding more green spaces to make our capital even more beautiful," said Chang Yuyang, another student from the school.

"With the personal involvement and leadership of the general secretary, the greening efforts in the capital will reach a new level, and citizens will be able to more directly enjoy the results of ecological civilization development," said Ding.

"As the general secretary said, we will continue working, one generation after another, to improve the greening efforts for the people, and contribute our own strength to ecological preservation in the capital and the whole country," said Lin.

Planting trees with President Xi inspires new generation of environmental champions