A team of international scientists, in cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, embarked on a critical research mission to assess the impact of the Fukushima nuclear plant's recent release of treated radioactive water into the sea. This effort marks the first comprehensive study conducted since the release of the contaminated water began in August. The move prompted concerns among local fishermen and led to China's decision to ban imports of marine products from Japan, citing food safety fears.
The team of researchers, comprising experts from China, South Korea, and Canada, descended upon the coastal town of Hisanohama, located approximately 50 kilometers south of the Fukushima nuclear plant. The port town was chosen as the sampling site for its proximity to the affected area, and its fishermen have been severely impacted by the release of treated water.
The scientists collected fresh fish samples directly from the boats, ensuring that the specimens were representative of the local marine ecosystem. These samples will undergo extensive testing in laboratories within each participating country, under the purview of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Paul McGinnity, a research scientist with the IAEA overseeing the survey, emphasized the importance of this international collaboration.
"The Japanese government has requested that we do this, and one of the reasons they want us to do this is to try and strengthen confidence in the data that Japan is producing," he stated.
This initiative seeks to provide a transparent and unbiased assessment of the environmental impact of the treated water release.
The treated water, amounting to more than a million metric tons - equivalent to 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools, became contaminated after coming into contact with fuel rods following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck the Fukushima plant in 2011. The water undergoes a filtration process to remove most radioactive isotopes, leaving only tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is challenging to separate.
Tepco, the operator of the Fukushima plant, has maintained that the water is diluted until tritium levels fall below regulatory limits, making it relatively harmless. Tritium's radiation is not energetic enough to penetrate human skin, and it is generally considered to pose minimal risk. However, scientific assessments have suggested that elevated levels of ingested tritium, beyond those present in the released water, may potentially raise cancer risks, as reported by a Scientific American article in 2014.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)