The operators of the nuclear ruins in Fukushima have now been given the green light to release more than 1.3 million tons of radioactive water into the sea. Japan’s filtered cooling water disposal plan meets international standards, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant with core meltdowns. More than twelve years later, the destroyed reactors still have to be cooled with water. Due to infiltrating rainwater and groundwater, the amount of irradiated water is increasing day by day. More than 1.3 million tons of it is now stored in about 1,000 tanks. But now, according to operator Tepco, space is running out. The water must therefore be filtered through a tunnel that goes about a kilometer into the sea and discharged diluted.
However, the technical ALPS system cannot filter out the tritium isotope. According to Tepco and the IAEA, there is no danger yet, as the water is diluted and small amounts of tritium are harmless to humans and the environment.
China and South Korea are very concerned about the damage
The government initially wanted to await the ruling of the IAEA before taking a final decision on the discharge of water. She wants to start discharging it into the Pacific Ocean this summer. Environmentalists, local fishermen and neighboring countries such as China oppose the dumping. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told journalists in Beijing on Tuesday that the IAEA report does not allow Japan to discharge the water. Nor does it prove that dumping is the safest and most reliable option. The spokeswoman said Japan had limited the IAEA’s investigations from the start by not studying other removal plans. The report cannot prove the legality of the project.
South Korea also fears that the dumping will have a negative impact on the marine environment and human health. The Seoul government has so far stressed its intention to maintain the import ban on fishery products from Japan until people’s concerns about the discharge of polluted water are resolved.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
