Suspected contaminant overflows from manhole near U.S. base in JapanTokyo, Jan. 29, 2026 (Xinhua/NAN) White foam was overflowing from a manhole near a U.S. base in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, prompting local authorities to investigate a possible link to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. The latest overflow echoes earlier incidents reported in 2020, when extinguishant containing potentially harmful PFAS chemicals leaked from the Futenma base, causing white foam to spread through surrounding residential areas. PFAS encompasses over 10,000 synthetic chemicals, which were once used for water-repellent finishing and foam-extinguishing agents. A Japanese government survey in 2023 found that concentrations of PFAS chemicals in rivers and groundwater exceeded the country’s provisional standard at 242 locations nationwide. (Xinhua/NAN)