Why is Japan dumping radioactive water into the sea
On August 24th, Japan initiated a project to release radiation-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. This plant was damaged in 2011 after an earthquake and tsunami struck the area. The natural disasters compromised its cooling system, leading to overheating of the core, which started releasing highly radioactive material.
Photo: Fukushima Japan
Over a decade after this tragic incident, the country aims to dispose of all the contaminated material, enough to fill 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools, within the next 30 years. However, despite numerous tests and reports asserting the safety of this practice, many still question whether there will be any environmental impact from releasing the contaminated water into the ocean.
Why is Radioactive Water Being Released into the Ocean in Japan?
After the plant's cooling system was compromised by the natural disasters, a significant and continuous amount of water was needed to cool the plant's core. After a certain period, the water is removed, treated, and stored, with fresh water replenishing the core to renew the cooling cycle. Now, 12 years after the tragedy, the site has accumulated over 1,000 tanks filled with contaminated water.
Storing such a large amount of radioactive material has become a major concern, as the occurrence of new earthquakes, tsunamis, or other catastrophic natural events could result in a major disaster if the tanks are damaged. Even though treated, the water is still contaminated with an element known as tritium, a rare isotope of hydrogen also called tritium or 3H.
Japan Releases Diluted Contaminated Water into the Pacific Ocean
As completely purifying the water used to cool the Fukushima plant's core isn't feasible, an alternative solution was sought. The approach taken by TepCo, the company responsible for the plant, was to dilute the contaminated water as much as possible, until the levels of 3H fall within the acceptable standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
While tritium is found in water worldwide and experts claim that the action initiated by Japan last week is safe, some scientists remain skeptical, believing there might still be negative environmental effects. And not just in marine life: they fear that the human race could somehow be impacted by the release of water contaminated with 3H into the ocean.
Contaminated Water in Japan Deemed Safe by WHO
According to the IAEA, tests conducted on-site indicate that the concentration level of tritium in the water released into the sea is below the safety limit of 1,500 becquerels per liter (Bq/L). The World Health Organization (WHO) states that it's safe to drink water with up to 10,000 Bq/L. The becquerel is a unit of measurement used by the International System to gauge the activity of radioactive isotopes. Thus, according to measurements carried out by the relevant Japanese authorities, releasing the diluted water into the sea is considered safe.
Nevertheless, some countries have expressed concerns about the release of even diluted contaminated water. For instance, China has halted the import of seafood from the Japanese market. In South Korea and even within Japan, several people have been protesting against this practice, fearing that water with traces of 3H could harm the planet.
Experts point out that ocean currents could carry the contaminated water to other countries, while organizations like Greenpeace express fears about the potential effects on life on Earth. Meanwhile, the plan continues to unfold, with Japan set to complete the first phase of the project by the end of May 2024.
