Japanese Authorities Inspect US Air Base in Tokyo After Chemical Spill
On Friday, Japanese authorities conducted an inspection of the Yokota Air Base in Tokyo following a chemical leak reported by the United States. The inspection came after the US military notified Japan in October about a spill of water containing PFOS, a substance identified by the World Health Organization as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
PFOS is part of the PFAS group of chemicals, known as “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to breaking down. The US military had informed Japan that the contaminated water leaked from an area of the base where a firefighting drill had taken place.
Fumitoshi Sato, Japan’s deputy chief cabinet secretary, explained that the inspection was prompted by concerns from local residents. He assured that Japan would continue to collaborate with the US on this matter.
The inspection involved officials from Japan’s defense ministry and Tokyo’s metropolitan government. Yokota Air Base did not immediately comment on the inspection.
Local opposition to the US military presence in Japan has been a long-standing issue, with residents voicing concerns about noise, pollution, and accidents. This dissatisfaction is particularly prominent in Okinawa, which hosts most of the US military bases in the country, despite comprising only a small percentage of Japan’s land area.
