Surface and ground water pollution by per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) caused by firefighting/training activities at military bases have been of serious concern in recent years. Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) have been developed and used extensively for more than half a century as efficient tools to extinguish severe fuel fires and to save human life/properties. The compositions of PFAS and other additives, however, are confidential and not open to the public, and the secretive attitudes worsen the situation by causing delay of recognition of, and proper actions against the pollution caused by PFAS in AFFF. The purpose of this review is to strengthen scientific basis to support effective measures against the pollution by collecting and compiling information on the historical development of and the compositions of PFAS and other additives in AFFF for US military. It was found that major PFAS in AFFF were different depending on company / product / production years, and that frequently several different PFAS were found in a AFFF as major components together with their production intermediates and/or by-products. Quantitative information on the PFAS in AFFF, particularly those used in Japan, are still insufficient, and it is needed to provide standards for the quantitative analysis and toxicological researches and to promote researches on the composition of AFFF and pollution status around the military bases / other AFFF used locations in Japan.

Energy Recovery Facility Kawaguchi, equipped with waste-to-energy facility, has been operating in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture since 2018. However, after operating this facility, potential impact on crops and human health have been concerned. Therefore, in this study, 33 elements in inorganic samples from the surrounding environment were analyzed for evaluating the effect of waste processing. As a result, the enrichment factors (EF values) for Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb were at levels indicating “strong anthropogenic contamination”. Furthermore, diffusion eastward from the facility, particularly at points 1.7 km to 3.0 km away, suggested the formation of hotspots. These results were attributed to the prevailing westerly winds in the study area and the influence of downdraft transport due to the surrounding mountains. Additionally, for As, Hg, and Pb, EF values showed a distance-dependent attenuation trend, decreasing with linear distance from the facility. The trends in these potentially problematic elements and their dispersion patterns resemble chemical contamination observed around similar facilities in Europe. The facility’s operation may be a contributing factor to trace element loading in the surrounding environment. Continued investigation is necessary to achieve the appropriate and safe operation of the waste-to-energy facility and the preservation of the environment.