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Poison gas remains buried across Japan

TOKYO, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Poison gas buried during World War II by the Japanese Army remains in at least four locations across Japan, the Environment Ministry revealed Friday.

As many as 150 other areas across the country are suspected of containing the buried gas.

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The Mainichi Daily News reported based on the results of the ministry's investigations, the Japanese government is preparing to work out cleanup measures as soon as possible.

The now defunct Imperial Japanese Army produced poison gas weapons and deployed them on front lines across the country during World War II to counter an expected invasion by the Allied Forces. The gases produced included mustard, tear and asphyxiating gas.

The ministry concluded such gas remains buried in Kamisu in Ibaraki Prefecture, Samukawa and Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture and the Chiba Prefecture town of Narashino.

Last March, Kamisu residents who used well water became ill. Arsenic compounds generated when poison gas is dissolved were subsequently detected, the newspaper said.

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