Japan To Release Water From Fukushima Nuclear Plant

Relevance: GS2: International relations, Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries GS3 Environmental pollution

(Source: The Hindu, 08/23/23)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, Japan is expected to begin releasing massive amounts of treated radioactive water from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, a highly contentious decision that has sparked outrage in neighbouring countries.
• The impending discharge of water comes more than a decade after Japan was devastated by the world's second-worst nuclear disaster.

Why does Japan plan to release Fukushima water into the ocean?

• The release of the water is a critical phase in the plant's decommissioning and the rehabilitation of Fukushima prefecture following the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami tragedy.
• Water disposal will take decades to complete, with a continual filtration and diluting process taking place alongside the plant's planned retirement.
• For the time being, the government has done all possible to safeguard the plan's safety, maintain Japan's fishing industry, and fully explain the scientific foundation for the action.
• The government has promised to continue its efforts until the completion of the release and decommissioning process, which will take decades.
• In a final assessment issued in July, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that the release, if carried out as planned, will have no effect on the environment or human health.
• Even after accounting for possible bioconcentration of low-dose radionuclides in the water, the environmental and health impact remains insignificant.
• Officials in South Korea and China are concerned about the impact on their respective islands.

Why release instead of treating the water?

• The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which runs the Fukushima facility, first intended to clean the wastewater, but ultimately chose to release the water since there wasn't enough space for the water-tanks.
• Additionally, due to the short half-life (12–13 years) of tritium, Japan is unable to keep water for longer than necessary.

Concerns of releasing the water into Pacific ocean

• Any release of radioactive materials will raise the risk of cancer and other known adverse health effects for people who are exposed because there is no known radiation safety threshold beyond which exposure may be deemed safe.
• Anyone who lives close to the discharge site may be at danger since the water released may be harmful to fish.
• Due to the difficulty of doing so, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has not eliminated tritium from the water.
• Also the water contains ruthenium and plutonium isotopes, which may last longer in the bodies of marine organisms and on the ocean floor.
• Fukushima's fishing unions have been pleading with the government not to release the water for years, saying that doing so would undermine efforts to repair the harm done to their fisheries' reputations.

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Uproar in neighbouring countries

• Nuclear power plants all throughout the globe routinely emit waste water with tritium levels higher than the treated water from Fukushima.
• However, the idea has sparked outrage among nearby countries, with China being the most outspoken opponent. Japan was accused of treating the ocean as its "private sewer."
• Hong Kong announced it will "immediately activate" import restrictions on some Japanese foods.
• South Korea and China have already prohibited imports of seafood from the Fukushima area.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: The function of heavy water in a nuclear reactor is to (UPSC 2011)

(a) Slow down the speed of neutrons

(b) Increase the speed of neutrons

(c) Cool down the reactor

(d) Stop the nuclear reaction