Water quality in Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture of Japan, has long been plagued by pollution of military bases of the United States in the country, which poses potential threats to the health and farming of local residents.
Since December last year, multiple water quality investigations in Higashihiroshima have revealed significant pollution in local water bodies near a U.S. military ammunition depot.
The contamination is primarily due to two highly concentrated organic fluorine compounds, PFOS and PFOA, which do not naturally exist in the environment but are synthetic chemicals commonly used in firefighting foam and other materials.
"We were required to stop using well water and only use tap water. We have abandoned growing rice this year either. The U.S. military ammunition depot is located over there. It's a large area and a small river flows from that direction. We don't know if that's the source of the pollution," said a local resident.
In the most contaminated areas, the concentration of the PFOS and PFOA reached a staggering 15,000 nanograms per liter, which is 300 times higher than Japan's provisional safety standard of 50 nanograms per liter.
"We found high concentrations of pollutants to the south and northeast of the U.S. military ammunition depot. Japan's provisional standard stands at 50 nanograms per liter. This area exceeds Japan's provisional standard by 300 times. I believe this is an extremely high concentration," said Mito Akira, an official of Higashihiroshima's Life and Environmental Department.
Experts warn that prolonged consumption of water contaminated with organic fluorine compounds may harm the immune system, liver, and kidneys, and could even lead to tumors.
The U.S. military had previously denied the use of firefighting foam containing these harmful chemicals.
However, in September this year, they reversed their stance, admitting that they had used the foam for firefighting purposes for 19 years from 1991 and had even burned large quantities of the raw foam concentrate in 2020.
The U.S. military base in Higashihiroshima has been present for nearly 80 years, but for the local population, it remains shrouded in mystery.
Despite the U.S. military acknowledging the past use of hazardous firefighting foam, local residents are demanding more transparency.
They are seeking further details on the scale of the foam usage and its potential impact on the surrounding water systems.
However, obtaining more information remains difficult as the U.S. military has yet to allow external investigations into the site.
Japan's water quality haunted by U.S. military bases
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
