'Toxic Barrels Found in School's Playing Field in Okinawa's US Airbase

[toxic barrels - photo from davidicke.com]

US
Fears mounted and alarming concerns of parents from Bob Hope Primary School located in Kadena, Okinawa, Japan rises as military personnel of the nearby US Military facilities of Kadena Airbase unearthed barrels and barrels containing toxic substances believed to be dioxins.  The report surfaced after a retired US major air force initiated and come forward to bring the matters up that the school grounds is near a former waste burning site for military defoliants.  Some parents even claimed that the illnesses suffered by their children must have beenthe caused by exposure to the said toxic elements. Hazardous workers continue to dug up barrels and barrels in  soccer pitch which is part of the area. The base commanders, Brig. Gen. James Hecker and Brig. Gen. Matt H. Molloy apparently ought to have admitted to parents of children of Bob Hope and Amelia Earheart Intermediate School of the contamination next to the school's playing fields. Sadly, the fields still continue to reveal and exposed toxicity threatening inhabitants of the facility of the dangerous toxins. It was June last year that 22 barrels was also unearthed containing dioxins and herbicides. Tests revealed that the ground has 8.4 times dioxin levels and water up at 280 times the allowed level. Report also revealed that last December, Okinawa City officials told that that surface soil around the area has elevated levels of arsenic.Last Friday, Jan. 31 Japan's Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera reported on a local television that the matters will be looked into by the Japan government as they continue to investigate the source manufacturer of the chemicals.

Kadena Air Base is home to USAF's 18th wing in the Okinawa prefecture in Japan. It is home to the largest combat wing of the US Air Force along with their families, Japanese personnel and contractors.