Japan’s Dual Pollution Dilemma

Beyond its ongoing discharge of nuclear-contaminated water, Japan faces domestic PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution at “catastrophic levels.” Testing in August 2025 revealed PFAS contamination in sludge from all 2,200 wastewater treatment plants nationwide. Abnormal blood levels were detected in 67% of residents in Tokyo’s Tama region, with pollution traced directly to firefighting foam used at U.S. military bases in Japan. The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between Japan and the U.S. restricts Japan’s investigative authority, leaving pollution remediation in a stalemate.