One article review! The Story of Japan's Forced Release of Nuclear Polluted Water into the Sea

Fukushima nuclear contaminated water in Japan

How to generate it?

On March 11, 2011, a major earthquake in Japan triggered the Fukushima nuclear power plant nuclear leakage accident. Image from The Associated Press

Affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the core of Units 1 to 3 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan melted down. This is one of the most serious nuclear accidents that have occurred globally so far.

After the accident, Tokyo Electric Power Company continued to inject water into the containment vessels of Units 1 to 3 to cool the core and recover wastewater.

The radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan mainly consists of three types: the original coolant of the reactor

Newly injected water for continuous cooling of the core after an accident

A large amount of groundwater and rainwater seeping into the reactor

According to a March 2023 CCTV financial report, the storage capacity inside the nuclear power plant is 1.37 million tons, and now the amount of contaminated water has increased to 1.32 million tons, approaching saturation.

Why does the Japanese side disregard opposition

Strongly promoting the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea?

Claiming that the capacity of nuclear contaminated water storage tanks is about to reach its upper limit

TEPCO claims that the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has limited area and no more open space for the construction of a large number of water storage tanks. The existing 1.37 million tons of storage capacity in the tanks will be fully used up by the fall of this year. Moreover, once a major earthquake occurs, there is a risk of leakage of a large amount of nuclear contaminated water, so it has to be filtered, purified, diluted and discharged into the sea.

The cost of "discharging pollutants into the sea" is lower

In the report released by the Japanese government expert group, five options were proposed, including injection into the formation, discharge into the ocean, steam discharge, electrolytic release, and solidification landfill. According to cost estimation, the cost of discharging into the ocean is the lowest.

The Japanese side is unwilling to bear the maintenance cost of the wastewater tank

According to analysis, from satellite images, it can be seen that the earliest batch of wastewater tanks were already corroded and spotted, and replacement would be a matter of time, which is also a considerable cost. The Japanese government's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the ocean is not due to insufficient space, but rather unwilling to bear maintenance costs.

● Or closely related to Japan's energy strategy

In response to the escalating power shortage, despite experiencing the pain of nuclear power plant accidents, the Japanese government is still actively considering restarting nuclear power plants. Analysis suggests that how to deal with Fukushima's nuclear contaminated water is a barometer for future similar nuclear pollution accidents. If nuclear contaminated water is treated according to scientific and environmental standards, it is equivalent to discouraging future investment in nuclear power.

Japan strongly promotes a plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea

Main Timeline

April 13, 2021

The Japanese government has officially decided to filter and dilute Fukushima nuclear contaminated water before discharging it into the sea.

July 22, 2022

The Japan Atomic Energy Regulatory Commission has officially approved Tokyo Electric Power Company's plan to discharge contaminated water into the sea after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident.

August 4th, 2022

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced that the construction of the discharge facility for nuclear contaminated water containing tritium and other radioactive substances stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has officially begun today.

June 26, 2023

Tokyo Electric Power Company announced that the construction of an underwater tunnel for discharging contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has been fully completed.

August 22, 2023

After holding a meeting of relevant officials, the Japanese government announced that it will start discharging Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea from August 24th. According to the plan, the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea will last for at least 30 years.

Endless troubles ahead!

What are the hazards of nuclear contaminated water being discharged into the sea?

Widespread spread of radioactive substances, causing radioactive contamination

Firstly, the Pacific coast of Japan will be affected, especially in the surrounding waters of Fukushima Prefecture. Afterwards, sewage will also pollute the East China Sea.

The German Institute of Marine Sciences has pointed out that the Fukushima coast has the world's strongest ocean currents.

Within 57 days from the date of discharge: Radioactive materials will spread to most of the Pacific region;

Three years later: the United States and Canada will be affected by nuclear pollution;

10 years later: spreading to global waters.

The above is a simulation effect of German marine science research on the diffusion rate and impact of nuclear contaminated water. From the graph, it can be seen that radioactive materials will continue to diffuse over time, and then spread to global waters. ● Long term impact on biodiversity

After treatment, nuclear contaminated water still has a high concentration of radioactive tritium, which cannot be eliminated. After being discharged into the ocean, tritium will also produce low-intensity β Radiation may have long-term impacts on biodiversity such as fish, plankton, benthic organisms, and birds.

● Impact on the marine environment and public health of neighboring countries

The assessment report of the International Atomic Energy Agency expert group clearly states that if tritium containing wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is discharged into the ocean, it will have an impact on the marine environment and public health of surrounding countries. At the same time, the existing treated wastewater still contains other radioactive nuclides and needs further purification and treatment.

● Long term negative effects or genetic damage

Greenpeace nuclear experts point out that the carbon-14 content in Japan's nuclear contaminated water is dangerous for thousands of years and may cause genetic damage.

"Japan's selfish behavior should be condemned by all humanity"

Strongly oppose the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea from multiple sources

At the same time as the Japanese government officially announced the start of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea on August 24th, Japanese people spontaneously held a rally in front of the Prime Minister's residence in Tokyo to oppose the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea.

On June 26th, Lee Jung wai, the leader of the Justice Party of South Korea, began protesting in front of the Japanese Embassy in South Korea, demanding that Japan withdraw its plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The South Korean citizen group "National Action to Stop Japan's Radioactive Water Discharge into the Sea" held a large-scale rally near the Seoul City Government, with thousands of people participating.

Joseph Villam, President of the Asia Research Institute for Pacific Island Countries in Jinan, Fiji, told People's Daily reporters, "Japan's selfish behavior should be condemned by all humanity for directly selecting a plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea without fully demonstrating other feasible disposal options."

On August 22, Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, stated that this act openly transfers the risk of nuclear pollution to neighboring countries and the international community, including China, and prioritizes personal interests over the long-term well-being of people in the region and around the world. It is extremely selfish and irresponsible.

Can seafood still be eaten?

What are the impacts of nuclear contaminated water being discharged into the sea on daily life?

In the long run, it has a certain impact on food, skincare products, clothing, etc

Radioisotopes are volatile substances that not only pollute the ocean, but can also exist in soil and air, thus having a certain impact on agricultural products and daily necessities. That is to say, whether it is food, skincare products, clothing, etc., in the long run, they will all be affected to a certain extent. But if effective supervision is carried out, safe products can still be purchased. For the general public, it is recommended to purchase imported products that have passed nuclear radiation residue testing through legitimate channels in China.

——Professor Wu Wei from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Capital Medical University

Seafood may be affected to varying degrees

Both deep-sea and nearshore seafood may be contaminated and affected to varying degrees, and whether it can meet food safety requirements requires careful testing.

——Yang Hua, Professor of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, President of the Marine Rule of Law Research Association of Shanghai Law Society

Or it may endanger table safety

The related hazards will ultimately affect the safety of each and every one of our dining tables, posing a serious threat to the health of all humanity.

——Professor Sun Dawen, Food and Biosystems Engineering, University of Dublin, Ireland

● Increased risk of local cancer in the human body

After radioactive substances enter the human body, there are various pathways of destruction. For example, strontium can invade bones, and even in small amounts, it can cause significant damage to local organs, increasing the risk of local cancer.

——Japanese engineering and technical expert Masashi Goto

Be highly vigilant!

Take all necessary measures in a timely manner

Chinese Customs:

Prohibit the import of food from ten prefectures including Fukushima in Japan.

Strictly review the accompanying certification documents for food, especially aquatic products, from other regions of Japan, strengthen supervision, strictly implement 100% inspection, and continuously strengthen the detection and monitoring of radioactive substances.

We will remain highly vigilant and take all necessary measures in a timely manner according to the development of the situation.

The Hong Kong SAR Government:

Starting from August 24th, the import of aquatic products from 10 prefectures, including Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Sakuragi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, and Saitama, will be prohibited, including all live, frozen, refrigerated, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed.

The Hong Kong Food Safety Centre will strengthen the testing of Japanese food, and the Environmental Bureau will publish daily radiation testing results for food, water, and other areas.

Macau SAR Government:

Starting from August 24, 2023, it is prohibited to import fresh food, animal derived foods, sea salt, and seaweed from 10 prefectures and districts, including Fukushima, Chiba, Nagano, Saitama, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, and Tokyo, including vegetables, fruits, dairy and dairy products, seafood and aquatic products, meat and its products, poultry eggs, etc.

Enhance the inspection of items carried by individuals entering Macau on flights from Japan to prevent food from entering Macau.

Strengthen monitoring of radioactive substances in imported food from Japan at the import and retail levels, and publish daily radiation testing data for imported food from Japan.