A survey conducted last month in Japan's Kamagaya City revealed that the concentrations of organic fluorides (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS) in the water from 13 of 31 local wells exceeded the provisional standard for Japan's tap water (50 ng/L), with the highest reaching 700 times the limit, according to Japan's national broadcaster NHK on July 18.
The survey is supplementary to the previous one in April, which already revealed excessive PFAS in seven wells in the city.
PFOS and PFOA. /CMG
Many PFAS such as Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) pose health and environmental concerns, because they are persistent organic pollutants or "forever chemicals."
The city authorities provide free drinking water to the public and encourage them to install water purification equipment in their residences.
(Cover is a still. /CMG)