Hexavalent Chromium Contamination in Kawaguchi City - 2020s

Hexavalent Chromium Contamination in Kawaguchi City - 2020s

Hexavalent chromium contamination in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, is becoming an increasingly serious problem, especially in areas where metal processing industries are concentrated. In the survey, the concentration of hexavalent chromium in a specific area of Kawaguchi City greatly exceeded the standard value of 0.05 mg/L, with a maximum concentration of 0.48 mg/L detected. The main cause was improper wastewater treatment over many years by Kawaguchi Metal Industry and Kawaguchi Steel Industry. Hexavalent chromium is highly carcinogenic, and its effect on drinking water is of particular concern, leading to restrictions on groundwater use in the surrounding area. Kawaguchi City, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, has a cleanup project underway using bioremediation and chemical reduction methods, and penalties against the companies have been tightened. However, it is expected to take at least 10 years to fully clean up all contaminated areas, and a lon
g-term response is needed.