Employees of major chemical maker Daikin underwent PFAS blood tests

KYODO News | September 13, 2025

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"Major Japanese chemical maker Daikin Industries Ltd. conducted blood tests on employees in the past following possible exposure to potentially harmful PFAS chemicals, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.

It is the first known case of a Japanese manufacturer conducting PFAS blood tests, which took place from the early 2000s to around 2015. Some results showed PFAS blood concentrations that were 500 times the level in guidelines set by U.S. academies, although no impact on health was confirmed, according to the source.

While Japan has not set a safety standard for PFAS blood levels due to insufficient expertise, an Environment Ministry official said the Daikin data, if made public, could be useful for PFAS-related research."