What is Japan doing with the radioactive water?
The Tokyo Electric Power company (Tepco) says its treatment technology can remove all radioactive materials from water except tritium, which is harmless in small amounts. It said the gradual release of the water, diluted with seawater, would not pose a threat to human health or the marine environment.
How did Fukushima affect the water?
The Fukushima radiation had a minimal impact on humans, though the precautionary evacuations did cause unexpected social and health problems. Much of the radioactive material fell into the Pacific Ocean because of prevailing winds. Concerns over contaminated fish devastated the regional fishing industry.
Why was Fukushima water released?
When the earthquake and tsunami struck the Fukushima power plant, three nuclear reactors went into meltdown. The process of decommissioning the disaster-hit site, which could take up to four decades, includes pumping cooling water through the affected infrastructure to prevent overheating.
Why Japan is dumping water from Fukushima in the sea?
The Japanese utility giant Tepco is planning to release more than 1 million cubic meters of treated radioactive water — enough to fill 500 Olympic-size swimming pools — from the wrecked Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, part of its nearly $200 billion effort to clean up the worst atomic …
Did Japan dump nuclear waste into ocean?
What is Japan doing to ensure food safety at Fukushima?
Japanese authorities conduct extensive testing on food and fish from Fukushima to ensure safety. Tokyo and the IAEA have agreed to compile an interim report on the review later this year.
What does Japan’s nuclear watchdog’s visit mean for Fukushima release plan?
Japan hopes the nuclear watchdog’s visit will raise confidence for its plans to release more than one million tons of water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.
Is Japan’s radioactive waste water safe to drink?
Japan’s government said the water has been treated to remove dangerous isotopes. Some observers, however, note that the water would still have elevated levels of radioactive tritium. Others argue that a gradual release of waste water, diluted with seawater, would render it harmless.