Fukushima: On August 24, 2023, the operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant began releasing its first batch of treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The water, which has been filtered and diluted, contains tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Tritium is not considered to be a major health hazard, but it can be harmful in high concentrations.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was caused by a tsunami that struck the plant in March 2011. The tsunami caused the reactors to overheat and meltdown, releasing large amounts of radioactive material into the environment. The plant has been in the process of cleanup since then, but the treated water has become a major problem.
On August 22, TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company, announced on X, “We have released ‘Remarks about the sixth meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Council concerning the Continuous Implementation of te Basic Policy on Handling of ALPS treated Water’”.
The plant has been storing the treated water in tanks, but the tanks are now reaching capacity. The Japanese government has said that it will release the treated water over a period of 30 years. The first batch of water will be released at a rate of 100 tons per day.
The release of the treated water is expected to be met with protests from neighboring countries, such as China and South Korea. These countries are concerned about the potential impact of the water on their own marine environments. Therefore, China prompted to announce an immediate blanket ban on all seafood imports from Japan.
The Japanese government has said that it will continue to monitor the release of the treated water and that it will take steps to mitigate any potential environmental impact. However, the decision to release the water is a major gamble, and it remains to be seen what the long-term consequences will be.