PM Ishiba Orders PFAS Testing in Drinking Water to Address Health Risks

Dec 3, 2024, 03:42 AM

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced that by next spring, all water suppliers in Japan will be required to implement measures to address the contamination of drinking water by 'forever chemicals,' known as PFAS. This decision comes in response to the detection of high concentrations of PFAS in the water supply of a town in Okayama Prefecture, prompting national concern over the safety of tap water. The government's response includes mandatory testing and public disclosure of PFAS levels by water utilities to mitigate health risks associated with these persistent chemicals.