Hazardous PFAS detected in blood tests - more than 3 times higher than national survey - government considers countermeasures

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

有害性指摘のPFAS 血液検査で国調査の3倍余検出 国は対策検討

2023年1月30日 19時11分

有害性が指摘されている有機フッ素化合物PFOS（ピーフォス）などをめぐり、専門家が市民団体と行った東京・多摩地域の住民を対象にした血液検査で、国が行った調査の3倍余りの血中濃度のPFOSなどが検出されたとする結果が公表されました。

「PFOS」などを含む化学物質の「PFAS」（ピーファス）について、国は対応策とその情報発信のあり方について方向性をとりまとめる方針です。

PFASの検出相次ぐ 米軍基地周辺や都内各地など

「PFAS」には4700種類余りが存在するとされ、有害性が指摘されている有機フッ素化合物の「PFOS」や「PFOA」（ピーフォア）は、沖縄県や神奈川県などのアメリカ軍基地周辺の河川や地下水などから、国の暫定的な目標値を超える値が相次いで検出されていて、都内各地の井戸水や地下水からも暫定的な目標値を超える値が検出されています。

ただ、「PFAS」全体の有害性などはいまだ解明されていません。

血液検査でPFOSなど検出 国調査の3倍余

京都大学の原田浩二准教授らは、市民団体と共同で、アメリカ軍横田基地のある多摩地域の住民を対象にした血液検査を行っていて、これまでに検査を受けたおよそ280人のうち、87人の結果を30日に公表しました。

その結果、国が2021年に全国の3地点で行った調査の平均値の3倍余りの血中濃度の「PFOS」と「PFOA」が検出されたということです。

原田准教授は「直ちに健康に影響があるわけではないが、今後の影響の調査や、汚染源の特定、対策の効果の検証なども含め国や自治体がしっかり対応するべきだ」と指摘しました。

市民団体は、ことし3月末まで血液検査を続けて、最終的には600人ほどの調査結果を分析したいとしています。

環境省は対応策を検討 情報発信へ

「PFOS」などについて、アメリカは飲料水にわずかでも検出されないような厳しい指針を示す一方、日本は暫定的な目標値しかなく、環境省は30日、最新の科学的な知見や国内の検出状況を把握し総合的な対策を進めるための専門家による初めての会合を開きました。

会合では、WHO＝世界保健機関が飲料水に含まれるPFASの量を測定する新たな方法を提案しているなど国際的な動向が報告されました。

会議では科学的根拠に基づいた対応策とその情報発信のあり方について方向性をとりまとめる方針です。

Translation

About the organic fluorine compound PFOS which had been pointed out to be harmful, in blood tests for residents in the Tama area of Tokyo conducted by experts together with citizens' groups, the test result was announced which showed that PFOS etc. in the blood concentration were found to be more than three times higher than a previous survey conducted by the national government.

Regarding "PFAS", which was a chemical substance including "PFOS", there was a government policy to co-ordinate countermeasures, and to decide on what should be the direction in disseminating information.

PFAS detected one after another around U.S. military bases and various places in Tokyo

There were more than 4,700 types of "PFAS". "PFOS" and "PFOA" (Pefor), which were their organic fluorine compounds that had been pointed out to be harmful, were said to have been found in rivers and underground water around US military bases such as Okinawa Prefecture and Kanagawa Prefecture. Levels exceeding the national government's provisional target values were detected one after another. Throughout Tokyo, values exceeding the provisional target values had also been detected in well water and groundwater.

However, the toxicity of PFAS as a whole had not yet been elucidated.

In a blood tests, PFOS etc. of three times more than the national survey were detected

Associate Professor Koji Harada (原田浩二)of Kyoto University and others, in collaboration with a citizen's group,  had been conducting blood tests on residents of the Tama area, where the U.S. Army Yokota Air Base was located. Of the approximately 280 people tested so far, the results of 87 people were announced on the 30th.

As a result, the concentration of "PFOS" and "PFOA" in blood detected was more than three times the average values of a survey conducted by the government at three locations nationwide in 2021.

Associate Professor Harada pointed out, ``Although there is no immediate impact on health, the national and local governments should take appropriate measures, including investigating future impacts, identifying sources of pollution, and verifying the effectiveness of countermeasures.''

The civic group would suppose to continue blood tests until the end of March this year, and eventually analyze the survey results of about 600 people.

The Ministry of the Environment considered countermeasures and information dissemination 

Regarding "PFOS" etc., the United States had issued strict guidelines that even a small amount would not suppose to be detected in drinking water, while Japan only had provisional target values. On the 30th, the Ministry of the Environment held the first meeting of experts to grasp the latest scientific knowledge and the situation on detection; and to promote comprehensive countermeasures.

At the meeting, the WHO (World Health Organization) made reports including proposing new methods etc. in the international trends in measuring the amount of PFAS in drinking water.

At the conference, it was the policy to compile countermeasures based on scientific evidence, and the direction on how to disseminate such information.

              So, blood tests conducted on residents from the Tama area, where the U.S. Army Yokota Air Base is located, show that concentrations of "PFOS" and "PFOA” in blood are more than three times the average values of the survey conducted by the government previously. This is an environment issue and the  Japanese government is now looking into this matter.