Japan plans to dump treated radioactive water from Fukujima into the ocean

JJapan says that dumping treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukusima nuclear power plant into the ocean is not dangerous for the environment.

Twelve years after the triple meltdown of the reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Japan is preparing to dump a huge amount of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea.

These waters are stored in about a thousand tanks that occupy a large part of the plant’s premises.

Japanese authorities say the spill is unavoidable and must start soon. To prove that it is safe, they have introduced hundreds of fish into the treated and diluted water.

Tomohiko Mayuzumi, TEPCO company spokesperson, says: “We have carried out fish breeding tests, with the aim of making it clear to people that the (treated) water, which we consider safe to release, would not have any bad impact on the creatures in reality.”

Despite the guarantees offered by the Japanese government and TEPCO (the company that operates the plant), the fishermen fear new damage to marine fauna. Neighboring countries like China, South Korea and Pacific island nations have raised concerns.

Radiology experts also show their reluctance. This is the case of the professor of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry at the University of Tokyo, Katsumi Shozugawa:”As a controller, what worries me the most is that we will not be able to meticulously check the concentration levels (of tritium) in the water that is released(…)”

The operator of the plant says that everything will be ready in the spring to evacuate the water, but first it will have to receive approval from the International Atomic Energy Agency before the Tepco company will discharge the water into the sea.

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