A researcher, pours a water sample into a smaller glass container for experimentation as part of drinking water and PFAS research at the US Environmental Protection Agency Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Feb 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (PHOTO / AP)

TOKYO - Japan will launch a study on the health impact of potentially harmful chemicals known as PFAS, after their detection across the country fueled concern among local residents, local media reported on Monday.

The government-led study, planned for three years from around June, will be conducted by three institutions, as some researchers warned of adverse effects on the human body after high concentration levels of PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, were detected in various parts of the country, Kyodo News reported, citing a government source.

PFAS, used in various products such as frying pan coatings and water-repellent clothing, have been detected in high concentrations at places near Self-Defense Forces and US military bases as well as industrial areas in recent years

In the study, Hokkaido University will use data on concentration levels of 39 kinds of PFAS contained in the blood of around 700 people from the fetal stage to late teens to examine the substances' impact on their fat metabolism and development, the report said.

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Hyogo Medical University will conduct experiments on mice to probe whether the substances suppress the immune system and reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations, while the National Institute of Health Sciences will seek to elucidate the mechanism of their toxicity at the molecular level, the report added.

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PFAS, used in various products such as frying pan coatings and water-repellent clothing, have been detected in high concentrations at places near Self-Defense Forces and US military bases as well as industrial areas in recent years.

Levels exceeding the Japanese government standard were reported near Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and the US Navy base in Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo, as well as in a drainage channel in an industrial park in Fukushima Prefecture and areas surrounding a chemical factory in Shizuoka Prefecture, according to the report.

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Known as "forever chemicals" that are extremely persistent in the environment and human bodies, PFAS could accumulate and lead to health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer.