Japan has received final approval from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). discharge into radiated and power plant-free Pacific water FukushimaA measure considered key to dismantling the plant, but surrounded by controversy and questions.
Why will dirty water spill into the ocean?
The Government of Japan approved its plan in April 2021, which was drawn up together with the energy company Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO). tons of water contaminated with radioactive substances Accumulated at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi plant following the nuclear crisis triggered by a devastating earthquake and tsunami ten years ago.
The Japanese Administration, the operator of the power plant and the Japanese nuclear regulator, preferred the discharge to the ocean. the best way to solve the problem of limited storage for liquid at nuclear facilities, and after disabling other alternatives because of their technical complexity or higher cost.
The plan, developed in collaboration with the IAEA, consists of the gradual discharge into the Pacific of more than 1.32 million tons of liquid contaminated with radioisotopesafter processing and dilution in seawater to remove most of these highly radioactive substances.
Radioactive water?
Radioactive water formed at the facility after contact with damaged nuclear reactors It is filtered in circuits that can remove 62 types of radioactive substances called ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System), Except for tritium and carbon-14, according to Japanese officials.
This debugging process is repeated as many times as necessary. in the drum and processing network until it is guaranteed that the concentration of radioactive material is below the limits set by Japan according to international standards.
Japanese authorities ensure that radioactive residues remaining in the liquid after purification and dilution do not exceed 1,500 burns per liter before reaching the sea. This is equal One-seventh of the maximum set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water.
Is dumping safe?
Both the Japanese government and the IAEA claim that the leak complies with international safety regulations. It specifies that the presence of radioactive waste in the waters close to the facility will be analyzed during discharge, in order to detect possible anomalies applied to the nuclear industry and radiological protection.
According to the calculations of the Japanese authorities and the conclusions of the IAEA, radioactivity levels from discharge in waters close to the plant will be practically the same as environmental radiation, Therefore, they consider the radiological impact to be “insignificant” for human health and the environment.
However, some voices in the international scientific community, including the United States National Association of Marine Biological Laboratories (NAML), They called for stopping the leak, considering that the data provided was insufficient to justify its security.
They have also protested or expressed concern about its potential impact on the local fishing industry. Fukushima, the Pacific Nations Forum, and neighboring countries such as South Korea and China.
Japan is also responsible for the discharge of tritium-contaminated water into the sea. is standard practice in the nuclear industry, in some cases at much higher concentrations than expected in Fukushima.
When will it happen?
The Japanese government has stated that the leak will begin from an unspecified date this summer. Once the final IAEA report on this is submitted, the Manager will analyze his conclusions before making a final decision to continue draining the fluid.
The large amount of polluted water that accumulates in the facility and continues to increase every day, together with the safety regulatory limits, means: the leak may take several decades and even extends to the same horizon predicted for dismantling of the plant between 2040 and 2050.
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]