- The decision by Japan to dump cooling water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean has ignited a heated controversy.
- Understanding the facts is critical in the face of concerns about radiation, environmental effect, and transparency.
About Fukushima Disaster
- The Fukushima tragedy was the result of a succession of nuclear events at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
- It came after a huge earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.
- The incident caused the release of radioactive elements, which had serious consequences for both human health and the environment.
- Along with the Chernobyl disaster, it is regarded as one of the most serious nuclear accidents in history.
Why Is Fukushima Water Being Discharged?
- Storage constraints: Due to the requirement for ongoing cooling of damaged reactors after the 2011 tsunami disaster, the Fukushima facility’s storage tanks are at full capacity.
- Large Water Volume: The facility requires 170 tonnes of cooling water each day, with rain and groundwater compounding the problem. The complex has 1,343 million cubic metres of water stored in 1,046 tanks.
- Filtered water travels through a one-kilometer tunnel before exiting the Pacific Ocean. While the radioactive waste remains on land, this process is projected to take 30 years.
Regulatory Acceptance and Scepticism
- Both Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have approved the discharge, citing low radiation impact.
- Concerns and scepticism: Environmentalists, fishermen, neighbouring countries, and public opinion all accuse Japan of exaggerating radiation levels. Concerns include ocean contamination, ecological destruction, economic loss, and reputational injury.
Water Preparation and Tritium
- Filter System: Contaminated water is filtered by the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), which can remove 62 radioactive elements but not tritium.
- Tritium Dilution: Before discharging tritium, the plant agency aims to dilute it to 1,500 Becquerel per litre, a fraction of the safety level.
- Tritium Safety: According to experts, tritium, a weak radioactive form of hydrogen, offers little harm because it produces weak beta particles that are easily blocked by materials such as plastic or skin.
#The Role of the Pacific Ocean and the Controversy
- Dilution Principle: Experts emphasise that “the solution to pollution is dilution.” Water becomes safe for both humans and the environment when it is sufficiently diluted.
- Greenpeace accuses the government and plant agencies of focusing on tritium to divert attention away from other radioactive elements that will not be filtered out.
- Considerations and alternatives: There are alternatives, such as extra tanks or evaporation. However, concerns about tank breaches and radioactive discharges into the atmosphere complicate these choices.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/japans-plan-to-release-fukushima-water-and-why-its-controversial-2404790-2023-07-11