"Do Not Touch Under Any Circumstances"... Japan in Uproar Over Cat Contaminated with Group 1 Carcinogen

News that a cat that fell into a tank containing a Group 1 carcinogen in Japan is wandering around has caused local residents to be anxious.

On the 12th, local media including the Asahi Shimbun reported that on the 10th, a cat fell into a tank containing hexavalent chromium, a Group 1 carcinogen, at a metal processing factory located in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, and escaped. Hexavalent chromium is a harmful substance with strong irritancy that can cause skin inflammation and respiratory problems. Its use is banned in some European countries.

A cat wandering after falling into a tank containing a Group 1 carcinogen.
[Image source=Asahi Shimbun]

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The fact that the cat fell into the tank was discovered when an employee who arrived at the factory around 7 a.m. on the 11th found yellow footprints presumed to have been left by the cat. CCTV footage from the factory recorded the cat leaving the factory while leaving footprints around 9:30 p.m. on the 10th.

After the news spread, residents criticized the factory for failing to properly manage the tank containing the hazardous substance. In response to the controversy, the factory stated, "The hexavalent chromium tank was covered with a sheet. However, since the hexavalent chromium is at about 50 degrees Celsius, the cat may have climbed onto the sheet to warm itself," adding, "It is presumed that the sheet was partially peeled off as the cat climbed on top."

The Fukuyama City environmental authorities warned, "If you find a cat showing abnormal symptoms, do not touch it under any circumstances." However, they also mentioned the possibility that the cat may already be dead.

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