IAEA approves Release of Japan’s ‘treated’ radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean

From IAEA

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit to Japan this week. (Martin Klingenboeck/IAEA)

Worrisome concerns have grown over releasing radioactive water from Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Neighboring countries, especially, South Korea, Taiwan, South Pacific Island nations, and China have voiced concerns regarding their fishing industries and related businesses.

The most famous fish markets: Norangjin, and Karak in Seoul, South Korea have been hit directly by this sensitive issue brought by the Japanese Government. Consumers and fishermen are almost bankrupt in recent days blaming the South Korean Government for not blocking Japan’s intention earlier. Not only are people worrying about the negative impacts of the ‘treated’ radioactive water on seafood, but they are also worried about the global impact of the release of the water.

According to the IAEA website, saying that “An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safety review has concluded that Japan’s plans to release treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station into the sea are consistent with IAEA Safety Standards.” In a formally presented report, the discharge of the treated water would have a negligible radiological impact.

The expectation is for controlled, gradual discharge of the treated water.

The water stored at the FDNPS has been treated through an Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) to remove almost all radioactivity, aside from tritium. Before discharging, Japan will dilute the water to bring the tritium to below regulatory standards.

The report is the outcome of nearly two years of work by an IAEA Task Force made up of top specialists from within the Agency advised by internationally recognized nuclear safety experts from eleven countries. They reviewed Japan’s plans against IAEA Safety Standards which serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment and contribute to a harmonized high level of safety worldwide.

Nonetheless, people remain highly skeptical of these “bureaucratic international governing bodies,” given the past record of the World Health Organization’s treatment of the Covid-19 Pandemic and human rights violations caused by “UN Peacekeepers” of the past.

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