Japan announced today that it will commence the release of over 1 million metric tonnes of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant wreckage on August 24. This move initiates a plan that has drawn substantial backlash, notably from China. The Japanese government endorsed this strategy two years ago as a pivotal step towards decommissioning the plant, managed by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco). However, local fishing communities have also raised concerns about potential damage to their reputation and livelihood.
The annals of nuclear disasters encompass a series of historical events, including Windscale, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the 2011 earthquake-induced catastrophe that crippled Japan’s Daiichi nuclear power plant, setting the stage for the Fukushima disaster. Tokyo Electric Power Company, responsible for managing the nuclear power plant, is gearing up to safely release this water into the ocean, as the accumulation of nuclear material intermixed with water stored for heat control within the compromised facility poses a global threat. This discharge into the sea is slated to occur on the 24th of this month.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida conveyed this decision through a press conference. The energy company asserts that they have filtered out all nuclear materials except tritium, which has reportedly been detected in varying radioactive forms. The company contends that tritium is not hazardous, backed by the understanding that it is an isotope unable to penetrate human skin and enter the body. Moreover, the removal of the tritium isotope via filtration is deemed a challenging task. To render the water’s tritium content non-hazardous, it will be lowered to acceptable levels before discharge into the sea. This process will entail releasing one-tenth of the three million tonnes of water. This undertaking serves as an opportunity for the newer generation to acquaint themselves with the complex task of nuclear power plant decommissioning, a process spanning decades.
The International Atomic Energy Agency granted approval for this release plan in July, although it has faced criticism. Despite claims of filtering out carbon-14, iodine-129, and strontium-90, there are allegations that their impact on various species has not been adequately studied. The profound investigations into the amalgamation of nuclear materials with water have raised concerns regarding potential cancer risks.
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