The decision to discharge treated radioactive water into the ocean, deemed essential for the decommissioning of the damaged nuclear plant, has faced criticism both domestically and internationally.
On Thursday, Japan initiated the release of treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, despite opposition from local activists and strong objections from neighboring countries like China, leading to a seafood import ban from China.
The controlled discharge of approximately 1.3 million metric tons of wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was crippled by a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami over a decade ago, began around 1 p.m. local time. The process is managed by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco), the plant's operator, and is projected to span about 30 years.
Japan's government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear regulatory body, have approved the plan. The IAEA affirmed last month that the release adheres to global safety standards and would have minimal radiological repercussions for people and the environment.
This initiative will facilitate the decommissioning of the plant more than a decade after a devastating earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown, causing the release of radioactive particles into the atmosphere. This incident marked the world's most severe nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union.
The released water, equivalent to the capacity of 500 Olympic-size swimming pools, has been employed to cool fuel rods within the nuclear reactors of the Fukushima plant since the meltdown in 2011. Presently, it is stored in approximately 1,000 on-site tanks, nearly reaching their capacity, as stated by Japan. While the water undergoes filtration and dilution to eliminate most radioactive components, traces of tritium, a hydrogen isotope, remain, which is challenging to remove.
Officials assert that the tritium levels will be well below the safety threshold defined by the World Health Organization. They also emphasize that nuclear facilities worldwide routinely discharge wastewater containing tritium, sometimes at higher concentrations. The IAEA confirmed on Thursday that its on-site analysis verified that the tritium levels in the initial batch of discharged Fukushima water were "considerably below" the operational limit.
.webp)
Despite Japan's efforts to reassure the public — Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the region last weekend to emphasize the safety of the plan — criticisms have emerged from various quarters. Japanese fishing groups are concerned about the potential impact on their livelihoods, while environmental activists and some scientists assert that the complete extent of risks remains uncertain.
Tepco, the plant's operator, has also faced allegations of lacking transparency, although it has pledged to prioritize safety and expressed apologies for causing concerns.
"Given the limited data accessible, there are numerous uncertainties," commented Wu Shiu-sun, a marine scientist at the Education University of Hong Kong. "We are unaware of the precise volume of discharged water and the exact duration of the plan."
This release has also evolved into a political and diplomatic issue, particularly among countries with historically tense relations with Japan.
China, the largest importer of Japanese seafood, is at the forefront of the criticism.
"The ocean is a global common property, and the forced initiation of the discharge of Fukushima-contaminated water into the ocean is an extremely self-centered and irresponsible act that disregards the global public interest," stated the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a Thursday announcement.
Soon after the water discharge commenced, Chinese customs authorities promptly imposed a comprehensive ban on all imports of Japanese "aquatic products," encompassing seafood, in order to "fully safeguard against the risk of radioactive contamination affecting food safety due to nuclear-contaminated water releases."
China had previously extended a longstanding prohibition on seafood imports from ten of Japan's 47 prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo, the capital. They also indicated heightened scrutiny of food imports from the unaffected prefectures.
Similar measures came into effect on Thursday in Hong Kong, the second-largest market for Japanese seafood after mainland China, targeting the same ten prefectures.
John Lee, Hong Kong's top leader, criticized the water release decision, stating that it "has blatantly disregarded the inevitable risk to food safety and the irreversible contamination and harm to the marine environment."
Samantha Ku, a Hong Kong resident, noted that she buys Japanese seafood multiple times a week but might cease consumption due to the water release.
"It's a matter of safety," she remarked, adding, "It would impact us, affecting our health and well-being."
Jimmy Cheng, the proprietor of a Japanese eatery named Superdon in Hong Kong, expressed concern that his patrons "might feel hesitant about consuming Japanese cuisine." While Cheng acknowledged the challenge of convincing customers, he noted that he had been preparing for the restrictions for months, implying that the operational impact on the restaurant would be manageable.
Cheng, 34, mentioned, "In terms of the restaurant's functioning, it isn't a major issue."
The South Korean government restated its position this week, asserting that it sees no scientific or technical obstacles in the proposed water release plan.
However, Park Ku-yeon, the First Deputy Chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, emphasized that if Japan deviates from the original discharge plan, South Korea would consider such actions detrimental to the safety and health of its citizens and would demand an immediate halt to all operations. Park made these remarks at a news briefing in Seoul on Tuesday.
Although the government assures close monitoring of the discharge process and rigorous seafood radiation testing, the South Korean public remains highly anxious about the plan. Civic groups and the country's major opposition party have organized protests nationwide, including on Wednesday.
Mark Brown, the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and chair of a forum comprising 18 Pacific island nations, issued a statement on Wednesday indicating his belief that the discharge adheres to international safety standards. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that other Pacific leaders might hold differing views.
Experts underline the extensive time and research invested in the decision-making process.
Marina Lorenzini from the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government stated, "This is not a hasty decision or series of steps, and it is a practice that is widespread and consistent globally within the nuclear energy sector."
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has published data online revealing that nuclear facilities in various countries, including China, South Korea, Canada, and France, have discharged water with significantly higher tritium levels in accordance with local regulations.
Lorenzini expressed confidence due to the active involvement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the Fukushima process. She found assurance in the fact that the IAEA has established an onsite presence at the Fukushima plant, operating an office since the previous month, and plans to share real-time and near-real-time monitoring data.
Lorenzini remarked, "I have good reason to believe that this operation will be closely monitored and well-maintained."
%20(1)-Photoroom.png)