![]() The government of Japan told TIME in an emailed statement that the measures it is taking are fully in line with international law and the safety standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The tritium will be diluted with a large volume of seawater. TEPCO says the water will be purified so that the concentration of radioactive substances-with the exception of a hydrogen isotope called tritium, which it says has “ little impact on the human body”-falls below regulatory standards. The experts have stressed that more data are needed to determine the safety of the water for disposal. Earlier this year, the PIF appointed a panel of independent global nuclear experts to help inform its members in their consultations with Japan and TEPCO. Among those voices is the PIF, which is advocating for more time to deal with questions and concerns. Some of the strongest pushback has come from Pacific Island countries, including from lawmakers, former leaders, regional fisheries management groups, and other organizations. Japanese fishermen, international environmentalists, and other governments in the region, including China, South Korea, and Taiwan, have all expressed concern. ![]() The plan has faced widespread opposition. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told the media in January that the release target date is now around spring or summer, which appears to be a postponement, according to the Associated Press, due to construction delays on a pipeline and the apparent need to gain greater public support. Japan initially said that it would begin releasing the water into the ocean in the spring of 2023. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the plant, says that the storage tanks take up too much space and hinder decommissioning the plant. Now, more than 1.3 million metric tons of radionuclide-contaminated water has been collected on site, and it continues to accumulate, as rain and groundwater seep in. Since then, water is being used to cool the damaged reactors and prevent further catastrophe. When a magnitude 9.1 earthquake and tsunami hit off the coast of Japan in 2011, it caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |