Read the full article by Brian Mcelhiney and Keishi Koja (Stars and Stripes).
“Two U.S. airfields on Okinawa are the likely sources of the highest levels of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ discovered in nearby groundwater in a decade, according to the Okinawa government.
Okinawa prefecture’s annual groundwater survey found elevated levels of PFAS at 12 spots around Kadena Air Base and 13 sites downstream of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, according to results released Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Division.
The study found PFAS levels exceeding Japan’s water quality standard of 50 parts per trillion at 31 of 44 sampling sites around U.S. bases.
The highest contamination level — 2,800 parts per trillion, or 56 times the national standard — was recorded at Yara Hijaga in Kadena town, downstream from Kadena Air Base. The previous maximum was 2,100 parts per trillion recorded in 2022.”…