Thursday, August 29, 2013

Denials of defoliant at former U.S. base site in Okinawa fly in the face of science



Realistically, at this historical juncture, the contents of the Kadena drums, whether Agent Orange, Pink, Green or whatever, is almost irrelevant. The inescapable fact is that the U.S. military, on land then part of Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, disposed of “unknown” materials in drums containing 2,4,5-T , a wartime herbicide/defoliant, and the most toxic component of the dioxin family, TCDD, known to be associated with the manufacture of such herbicides. There have been other allegations of the disposal of U.S. military herbicides on Okinawa, these being in 2011 at Chatan and in 2012 at Futenma, as reported in The Japan Times and The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus.

The general public inhabiting areas in close proximity to Kadena Air Base, and frequenting the area for recreational purposes, should demand from local authorities a geographical and chemical breakdown of the burial field, and rapid implementation of remedial measures where applicable. In addition, locals should be properly informed about potential health concerns resulting from possible contaminant exposure.

Continue Learning:   http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/08/26/voices/denials-of-defoliant-at-former-u-s-base-site-in-okinawa-fly-in-the-face-of-science/#.Uh_pgX-t1Rz

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