Jinkanpo Atsugi Incinerator

Enviro-Tech (Formerly Shinkampo) Incinerator (left) Fumigates NAF Atsugi Military Housing (right).

The Enviro-Tech Incinerator Complex (Atsugi Incinerator) was a waste incinerator located in Ayase, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, (formerly Jinkanpo/Shinkampo). It began operation on March 3, 1980 and was closed on April 30, 2001. The incinerator was located near Naval Air Facility Atsugi, a base manned partly by several thousand United States Navy members and their families.

Throughout its history, the incinerator complex reportedly blew toxic and cancerous emissions over the neighboring base facilities, contaminating the base, especially the housing area, with dioxin, particulate matter, heavy metals, and other toxicants. A comprehensive air and soil sampling study conducted from 1998-1999 revealed the presence of 246 chemicals, with over 48 surpassing EPA health protective guidelines and regulations, including numerous known and suspected carcinogens. The incinerator's owners, arrested and jailed for charges of tax evasion, neglected the maintenance of the facility and operated without proper emissions control devices.

Headaches, eye irritation and respiratory conditions were commonly reported by base residents. Many families also report having experienced a miscarriage while stationed at NAF Atsugi. Starting in 1998, a formal risk management plan was implemented that required service members and accompanied family members to undergo medical screenings before being stationed at the base in order to ensure that they had no medical condition that would be worsened by the poor air quality. If so, they were deemed ineligible to transfer.

Closure

In April 2001, the Japanese government purchased the plant for nearly 40 million dollars and shut it down following a United States Department of Justice lawsuit against the private incinerator owner. Dismantling was completed by the end of that year.

Post-Closure

In the years and decades following closure of the complex, many former residents of NAF Atsugi have reported a variety of cancers and non-cancer diseases. In June, 2007, the USN's Environmental Health Center announced that it would conduct a study of the health population of those stationed at NAF Atsugi during the time the incinerator was in operation. The resulting study, titled "Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi Japan Health Study Report" was completed in June 2009, comparing Atsugi resident health outcomes to those of another U.S. military base in Japan. The Navy’s study found no difference in the studied cancer rates and no ocular or respiratory differences, although, it did find an increase in dermatological disorders among former NAF Atsugi residents. Critics of this study argue that it was conducted during an immature cancer latency period and did not evaluate all relevant cancers or non-cancer diseases. Since most cancers linked to an exposure generally require a 20-30 year latency period before they are likely to manifest, the timing of the study would not have been ideal for observing cancer development, or other latent health conditions.

In June 2009 following a brief by Navy Medicine, the DOD-V.A. Deployment Health Working Group agreed the V.A. would receive a list of all affected active-duty personnel stationed at NAF Atsugi from 1985 to 2001. The VA subsequently added the Atsugi exposure to the October 2009 Compensation & Pension Bulletin, an April 2010 VBA training letter titled: “Environmental Hazards in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Military Installations”, a feature in the M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, and created a webpage acknowledging the exposure. However, as of early 2025, the VA has not conducted any follow-up or medical surveillance of the NAF Atsugi population.

References

Web

• "Waste Incinerator in Atsugi, Japan". VA Public Health. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
• "Naval Air Facility Atsugi Japan Shinkampo Incinerator Health Information". Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
• Dwyer, Devin (9 October 2009). "Enduring War and 'Witch's Brew of Toxic Chemicals' Veterans to Congress: Investigate, Ensure Medical Care for Chemical Exposure". ABC NEWS.
• Svan, Jennifer H. (18 November 2007). "Clearing the Air Around Atsugi Incinerator". Stars and Stripes.
• Talton, Trista (4 October 2007). "Web site raises profile of Atsugi health woes". Navy Times.
• "Documented Toxic Exposure from the Jinkanpo/Shinkampo Incinerator". February 6, 2008.
• "Naval Facilities Engineering Command NFESCA - Atsugi". August 10, 2008. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010.
• Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council (2001). "Review of the US Navy's Human Health Risk Assessment of the Naval Air Facility at Atsugi, Japan". National Academy Press. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Hesse, Stephen (July 17, 2000). "Dioxin found deadly for sure -- and they're pumping it out". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Hesse, Stephen (February 12, 2001). "U.S. sues Atsugi incinerator operator". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Hesse, Stephen (February 26, 2001). "Incineration as usual in Kanagawa, despite suit". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Hesse, Stephen (March 11, 2001). "Japanese neighbors join in incinerator struggle". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Hesse, Stephen (June 27, 2007). "Is this a poisons coverup?". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Hesse, Stephen (February 28, 2010). "Is the Atsugi tragedy finally drawing to a close?". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
• Japan Times, The (March 11, 2000). "Ministers to work on Atsugi dioxin case". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Japan Times, The (March 16, 2000). "Kawara inspects Atsugi base for dioxin before Cohen lands". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Japan Times, The (March 17, 2000). "U.S. to give back Kadena base radar". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Japan Times, The (March 28, 2000). "U.S. sues to shut down incinerators". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Japan Times, The (April 20, 2000). "Dioxin in air over U.S. base 35 times standard". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Japan Times, The (May 21, 2000). "Dioxin contamination worst at Atsugi base, survey finds". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Japan Times, The (April 21, 2001). "Compensation deal reached with incinerator firm". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
• Kozaryn, Linda D. (March 28, 2000). "U.S., Japan agree to fight health hazard near NAF Atsugi". American Forces Press Service. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28.