Overview
- The Environment Ministry, which released the FY2024 survey Friday, found 629 sites in 26 prefectures above the 50 ng/L PFOS+PFOA guideline, including 130 newly identified locations.
- Local governments have urged people not to use water for drinking at sites that exceeded the guideline.
- Peak readings included 73,000 ng/L in groundwater in Kumatori, Osaka, with 72,000 ng/L in a river in Kibi-chuo, Okayama, and 30,000 ng/L in Settsu, Osaka.
- Officials measured about 3,941 sites across all 47 prefectures, roughly double last year, so higher counts reflect broader testing as well as contamination.
- From April, PFOS and PFOA become formal water-quality standards under the Waterworks Law, which will require most water suppliers to test about every three months.