5-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) More than a decade after the catastrophic 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Japan has announced its intention to discharge over a million tonnes of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) granted its final approval to Japan’s plan after conducting a two-year evaluation, coinciding with IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi’s four-day visit to the country.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the plant, stated in a 2020 report that the water would be released into the ocean over the span of 30 to 40 years. However, Japan has not yet specified a precise date to initiate the release, which amounts to filling 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Nonetheless, Japan’s decision to dispose of the treated radioactive water in the ocean has faced staunch opposition from neighboring countries such as China and South Korea, as well as from Japanese residents.
This report examines how the wastewater will be treated and addresses concerns regarding its safety.
Why Is Japan Releasing Nuclear Wastewater Into The Ocean?
Following the devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake in March 2011, three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered meltdowns. Approximately US$150 billion has been spent on cleaning up the aftermath of this nuclear accident, which is the worst since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
Despite cleanup efforts, the plant continues to generate 100 cubic meters of wastewater daily. To cool the reactors, a combination of groundwater and seawater is employed and subsequently filtered and stored in tanks. Currently, there are 1,000 tanks on-site, but they are approaching their capacity of 1.3 million cubic meters and are expected to reach full capacity by early 2024.
In April 2021, Japan announced its gradual plan to release the accumulated treated wastewater from the plant. According to Japanese officials, this action is necessary to prevent accidental leaks in the event of another earthquake and to create space for the decommissioning of the plant. Additionally, TEPCO is unable to continue clearing space for additional tanks. Bloomberg reported that the utility company has already cleared 500 square meters of trees to make room for the existing tanks.
Over the past two years, the IAEA’s task force has conducted five review missions and published six reports on the safety aspects of Japan’s wastewater release plan. In its final review, the agency confirmed that Japan’s plan adheres to relevant international safety standards.
How Has The Wastewater Been Treated?
The contaminated water has undergone recycling through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), a pumping and filtration system that employs a series of chemical reactions to remove 62 radionuclides from the water. While most radioactive elements have been successfully filtered out, the treated water still contains tritium, an isotope that is challenging to separate from water due to its chemical similarity to hydrogen.
According to the IAEA, tritium may pose a radiation hazard if inhaled or ingested, but it is only harmful to humans in significant doses. Before release, TEPCO has stated that the wastewater will undergo repeated purification, sampling, and testing to ensure that the concentrations of radioactive substances are below regulatory standards.
Is The Treated Water Safe?
The IAEA’s final report affirms that the controlled and gradual discharge of the treated water into the sea will have a negligible radiological impact on both people and the environment. TEPCO has also assured that the impact of releasing the treated wastewater will be minimal.
Although tritium has a radioactive half-life of 12.32 years, the wastewater possesses a short biological half-life of seven to fourteen days within the human body, according to the IAEA. Professor Jim Smith, an environmental scientist at the University of Portsmouth, stated that tritiated water does not present significant risks to the Pacific Ocean ecosystem, as it is weakly radiotoxic and does not biomagnify in the food chain.
Professor Mikhail Balonov, an IAEA expert, echoed these sentiments, adding that other nuclear facilities worldwide release more tritium in their wastewater each year compared to the levels in Fukushima’s wastewater.
According to the online media collective The Conversation, the Pacific Ocean already contains approximately 8.4 kg of tritium, which is significantly less than the 3 grams present in Fukushima’s wastewater.
However, Associate Professor Kumpei Hayashi at Fukushima University expressed concern about the tritium levels, particularly regarding the aging problems that may arise in the coming decades. The American Association for the Advancement of Science highlighted that other more dangerous isotopes with longer radioactive lifespans, such as ruthenium, cobalt, strontium, and plutonium, can occasionally bypass the ALPS process. TEPCO noted that these isotopes are present in 71% of the on-site tanks.
Who Is Monitoring Safety Standards?
The IAEA will continue its safety review during the wastewater discharge and maintain an on-site presence, providing live online monitoring via its website from the discharge facility. IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi stated that this ongoing monitoring ensures the application of relevant international safety standards throughout the multi-decade process outlined by the Japanese government and TEPCO.
The agency’s task force, consisting of 11 experts from various countries, including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, will serve as the primary source of technical and regulatory expertise required to complete the IAEA’s review.
Grossi emphasized the IAEA’s commitment to transparency, enabling all stakeholders to rely on verified facts and scientific information throughout the process. Regular reporting will be conducted to keep the public and other nations informed about the latest developments.
How Is The World Reacting?
Japan’s plan to release the treated wastewater into the ocean has sparked protests from fishing communities in Fukushima. They fear that customers will reject their catches despite stringent food testing protocols in place for the region. Although TEPCO has engaged with communities and stakeholders, fishing unions in Fukushima have long urged the Japanese government not to proceed with the water release, asserting that it could undermine efforts to restore the damaged reputation of their fisheries.
The proposal has also drawn criticism from China, which argues that the IAEA report does not justify the water release and has called for a suspension of the plan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned of potential risks to neighboring countries and Pacific Island nations, emphasizing that the ocean is not Japan’s private dumping ground.
In South Korea, some individuals have engaged in panic-buying of salt due to concerns about contamination once the treated wastewater is released. This rush led to a nearly 27% increase in salt prices compared to two months ago. Bloomberg reported that weather conditions and reduced production also contributed to the price hike.
The Pacific Islands Forum, comprising 18 nations including Fiji and Australia, has urged Japan to explore alternative options and called for further discussions on the associated risks.
