Japan initiates the discharge of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant

Japan has begun the process of releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean, a move that has raised worries among local fishermen and neighboring countries due to potential environmental impacts, according to a report by Kyodo News.

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The water in question, which was initially used to cool down melted nuclear fuel, has undergone treatment to remove most radioactive substances except for tritium. The release of this treated water began on Thursday, prompted by the accumulation of water at the site since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011 led to a nuclear disaster.

This decision follows an earlier approval by former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in April 2021, who agreed to release the water into the Pacific Ocean within a span of around two years. The current administration then announced plans in January to carry out the release sometime between spring and summer.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed in July that Japan's approach aligns with global safety standards and would have limited negative impact, thereby granting the green light for the water discharge.

While certain European nations relaxed import restrictions on Japanese food products, China introduced rigorous radiation testing on seafood exports, potentially pressuring Japan against the discharge and causing diplomatic tensions.

South Korea, while showing respect for the IAEA's assessment, still holds concerns, as do opposition parties in the country, regarding the potential consequences of this water disposal.

Local Japanese fishermen are against the water release due to fears that it might harm the reputation of their seafood products. This is despite their extensive efforts to rebuild consumer trust following the initial nuclear crisis.

To address these concerns from the fishing community, the Japanese government opted to initiate the release of treated water before the upcoming trawl fishing season in September. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida personally visited the nuclear facility to convince fishermen to support this decision.

To counter negative perceptions and support local fishermen, the government established two funds totaling 80 billion yen (around USD 692 million).

Since the disaster, the nuclear plant has stored water in over a thousand tanks. The water has undergone treatment to remove all radioactive elements except tritium. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., has raised alarms about tank capacity nearing its limit by 2024 without the release of water. The treated water will be diluted to a concentration one-fourth of Japanese safety standards before being discharged through an undersea tunnel situated a kilometer away from the plant.

Japan also highlighted that China and South Korea have previously released liquid waste containing notable levels of tritium into the sea. However, critics continue to raise safety concerns about the long-term effects of this radioactive substance, despite its low radiation emissions and limited accumulation within the human body.

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