Radioactive, but… ‘safe’? Japan to dump Fukushima wastewater in Pacific despite objections

RT

Running out of space to store water contaminated by fuel that escaped during the Fukushima meltdown, the Japanese government is preparing to release it into the Pacific Ocean – despite the presence of radioactive elements.

Currently, 1.09 million tons of contaminated water is stored in 900 tanks near the Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, which suffered a catastrophic release of fuel following an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

The government claims that radioactive material is being reduced to non-detectable levels through the Advanced Liquid Processing System procedure, but there is evidence that this process does not remove many radioactive elements, including antimony, cobalt, iodine, rhodium, ruthenium, strontium, and tellurium. Tepco, which operates the plant, admits the water contains tritium, but insist the levels are “safe.”

The UK Telegraph has obtained documents from Japanese government sources indicating that authorities are aware ALPS, developed by Hitachi, is not actually eliminating radioactive elements to non-detectable levels. Tepco was forced last month to admit that 80 percent of the water still contains radioactive substances after local residents and fishermen protested plans to dispose of it in the ocean.

Tepco admits that 65,000 tons of ALPS-cleansed water retain more than 100 times the amount of strontium-90 legally permitted. Strontium-90 accumulates in teeth and bones and can cause leukemia and bone cancer.

Tritium, too, is not harmless, despite Tepco’s assurances. According to nuclear specialist Shaun Burnie, beta particles of the element are more harmful than X-rays and gamma rays.

The government initially planned to release the contaminated water in 2016, but was surprised by the strength of local opposition. In March 2016, Tepco executives were charged with contributing to deaths and injuries in relation to the Fukushima meltdown after a judicial panel said they had ignored a 2008 internal report warning the plant could be struck by 15-meter waves in the event of a tsunami.

https://www.rt.com/news/441473-fukushima-wastewater-dump-pacific/

3 thoughts on “Radioactive, but… ‘safe’? Japan to dump Fukushima wastewater in Pacific despite objections

  1. Why not? The UK stored their nuclear waste in steel 55 gallon drums and dumped them into the ocean. What could possibly go wrong?

  2. A reactor requires about 1 million gallons of fresh water per minute for cooling. There are 4 reactors at that site. They have been dumping into the Pacific all along. Dana Durnford and Kevin Blanch are the only two I trust on this matter with the exception of a few other small youtubers who have learned from these two and are putting out their own material now.

  3. Documentaries are on YouTube. The earthquake tsunami and melt down are well recorded for all to see and learn. This is real. It happened. It’s not easy to explain to children but…..Happy Halloween! Cesium 134.

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