The International Atomic Energy Agency approved Japan’s plans to release cleaned radioactive water from its defunct Fukushima nuclear reactor into the ocean on Tuesday (July 4). The Fukushima controversy is a hot topic in Asia, with tensions rising following Japan’s intentions to release radioactive water from the tsunami-ravaged nuclear reactor into the sea.
During the 2011 tsunami, a nuclear disaster occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant nuclear plant, resulting in the emission of a huge amount of radioactive material, inflicting great human suffering. Following the tsunami, some of the nuclear facility’s reactors melted down due to overworked cooling systems, resulting in the biggest radioactive disaster since Chornobyl. Some experts predicted that the cleanup would take decades and cost hundreds of billions of dollars in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
The tanks on the site now house over 1.3 million tonnes of radioactive water
After coming into touch with the reactor’s fuel rods, the water was purified. The tanks on the site now house over 1.3 million tonnes of radioactive water, which is enough to fill 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools. It is a mix of groundwater, rain that seeps into the area, and cooling water. Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) plans to dilute the water until tritium levels fall below regulatory limits before dumping it from the coastal site into the ocean. The corporation has been filtering the polluted water to eliminate isotopes, leaving only tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is difficult to separate from the water and frequently lingers in wastewater discharged into the sea by nuclear facilities across the world.
Tritium is regarded reasonably innocuous because it does not generate enough energy to penetrate human skin, according to a 2014 Scientific American article. When consumed, however, it may increase the risk of cancer. The full water disposal procedure will take decades to complete, so it is not a one-day or two-day activity. This summer, Japan plans to begin releasing more than a million tonnes of clean water from the wrecked nuclear power plant. Hirokazu Matsuno, a top government spokesman, said Tuesday that “a review by IAEA, given how authoritative it is in the management and application of nuclear safety standards, is critical to our efforts to foster international understanding”.
“The controlled, gradual discharges of the treated water to the sea… would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, said Tokyo’s plan to dilute the treated water and release it into the sea over several decades is “consistent with relevant international safety standards.” “The controlled, gradual discharges of the treated water to the sea… would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment,” it added.
Following discussions with Japan’s prime minister and foreign minister, visiting IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stated that the organization had spent two years examining the release strategy. They evaluated the water in their labs and submitted samples to independent labs for further investigation. “This process of dilution and chemical and other filtration is nothing new,” he said, referring to comparable leaks by factories from China to France. It is a real thing in the industry.” “We recognize that there are concerns,” he stated. Grossi stated that the IAEA will establish a permanent office at the Fukushima site to supervise the discharge process in real time. “We will thoroughly explain and communicate, both domestically and internationally, details of the IAEA report, our effort to ensure safety, and measures against reputational damage”.
China expresses worry
The plan to release nuclear water is still controversial, with China opposing it. Not only China but other nearby countries, such as South Korea, are concerned about the contamination after the discharge begins. Fishing villages in Fukushima have also expressed concern about the impact of Japan’s plan on their fishing business, citing customer concerns despite tight testing processes for food from the region.
Meanwhile, according to sources, Tepco has been working with fishing communities and other stakeholders to promote agriculture, fisheries, and forest products in stores and restaurants in order to mitigate any reputational loss caused by items from the area. In the midst of mounting worries, Grossi has stated that he will travel to South Korea to speak with concerned consumers. According to media sources, he will also visit New Zealand and the Cook Islands to assuage public misgivings about the proposal.
What caused the ‘Great East Japan Earthquake’ on March 11, 2011?
A large magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck Japan, centered in the Pacific Ocean around 80 kilometers east of Sendai. The quake triggered a massive tsunami. The US Geological Survey reported that it was the greatest earthquake ever recorded in Japan and the fourth largest recorded globally since 1900. According to government sources, the number of persons confirmed killed or reported as missing from the 2011 disaster was about 18,500. Another estimated it to be at least 20,000. Reports have mentioned that the majority of those killed were drowning victims of the tsunami waves.