Fukushima nuclear plant begins tests of wastewater release plan; fishing officials remain opposed

Did anybody else hear any of the results of the team of South Korean officials who were invited to Fukushima to see the plan about releasing the water. I haven't heard boo about it whether they signed off on it or not. I was waiting for their response, but nada so far.

The rate of cancers in Japan is skyrocketing how do you think where does it come from?

None of that is true. Being a cancer survivor, the truth is important.

https://ganjoho.jp/public/qa_links/report/statistics/pdf/cancer_statistics_2022_fig_E.pdf

Japanese people have remarkably low mortality rates from ischemic heart disease and cancer (particularly breast and prostate), and relatively high rates from cerebrovascular disease and respiratory infection.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-020-0677-5

I think one of the lessons here is that old reactors are unsafe and we need to use modern designs if we are stuck with nuclear power for the foreseeable future.

The diluted water being released is safer than most drinking water.

The Japanese fishermen - as well as the usual Korean protesters- need to look to the science rather than being hysterical.

This all sounds good on paper. However, the fact is, nobody knows what effect large amounts of radioactive water have on the environment. This plan should be aborted just for thst single reason. It's too late after it is released to find out there is a problem. There is a possibilty this release will disrupt the breeding cycles of fishes and may even cause mass fish kills. A deep bow and solemn apology is not going to repair any damage to the ocean and fish populations. This is massive gamble on a global scale and should be stopped!

Road signs in Futabamachi, the nearest town to TEPCO’s Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plants, read: "Nuclear Energy -- Guarantee of the Bright Future."

Futabamachi is the most nuclear accident-affected town with 85% of former residents still unable to return home.

lunaticJune 14  06:57 pm JST

> You keep talking about tritium. Ignoring the inconvenient ones, like carbon-14, and strontium-90 more than 100 times the regulatory standards.

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Not after ALPS treatment. It will be continually processed until far below international standards, then diluted x100.

Aly RustomToday  08:03 am JST

Didnt the government change it's guidelines regarding what it considered is "safe" just to get past it's own laws and regulations here?

Yup- and I remember my martial arts teacher at the time being furious at the incompetence of the gov in doing so. 

The Japanese government’s safety level for Tritium contamination is many times that of the WHO level.

Making levels of radiation ‘legal’ doesn’t mean that harm will be avoided

The government has yet to gain my ‘understanding’

Same here. 

Next step Japan will do is to force other countries to accept Fukushima products no matter what. Other country really need to fight in international level just to reject those foods.

Absolutely. 

I'll stop eating seafood, there are other food sources in Japan, natto, ramen, tonkatsu etc.

May not be a bad idea..

Not just the fishing industry is opposed. Much of the entire world is opposed. Much.

true. 

Did anybody else hear any of the results of the team of South Korean officials who were invited to Fukushima to see the plan about releasing the water. I haven't heard boo about it whether they signed off on it or not. I was waiting for their response, but nada so far.

Yeah I was wondering about that too. Nothing. My personal guess is the findings didn't favor Japan, so they swept it under the rug. 

This all sounds good on paper. However, the fact is, nobody knows what effect large amounts of radioactive water have on the environment. This plan should be aborted just for thst single reason. It's too late after it is released to find out there is a problem. There is a possibilty this release will disrupt the breeding cycles of fishes and may even cause mass fish kills. A deep bow and solemn apology is not going to repair any damage to the ocean and fish populations. This is massive gamble on a global scale and should be stopped!

THIS!!!

How could you trust anything these criminally negligent buffoons say???

I don't

The Japanese fishermen - as well as the usual Korean protesters- need to look to the science rather than being hysterical.

It doesn't matter whether the fishing industry understand the science of this as being safe for consumption or not. It's the people that consume the product that need to be influenced. This decision is going to hurt the industry no matter what the science suggests.

I agree with Alongfortheride, what is the alternative? If you spread it over the land surrounding the nuclear power plant it will either make its way into the groundwater, and then into the ocean. You can't just let it evaporate. I'm sure they have looked at a million options but this one seems to be the best they could come up with. I'm not a big fan of this idea but something has to be done. I fear another strong quake and many of these tanks collapse letting the untreated water flow into the ocean!

As usual, it is written only about unscientific things that are convenient for Koreans.

The IAEA and scientists from other countries have examined the treated water and found no problems. If the data issued by Japan is false, we need proof that the IAEA data is also false.

Tritium is also found in nature, in drinking water and rain. You live on tritium, did tritium harm you directly? No.

Even if tritium is ingested, it does not accumulate in the body.

Even if you drink tritium diluted with seawater, it will not affect you.

There is no scientific basis, it's just an impression manipulation, and the speculation that the data released by Japan is a lie. It is no different from the mad cow disease that Koreans once worried about.

Even the Korean government is unable to show opposition in the face of scientific grounds.

Everything in the comment above is blatantly and demonstrably false. It’s outrageous to post this.

(BTW, you cannot use a carat in post, it deletes everything after.)

It is not just harmful tritium being released. There are also a number of alpha radionuclides that ALPS can’t remove.

having TEPCO and LDP to examine and certify the release just 1km from the shore where ocean currents and tides and wind and waves will wash it along the coastline past Nagoya and Hokkaido…is like have the USGovernment and military investigate if napalm causes any health risks during and after the Vietnam war.

@ japancat Today  11:48 am -

I would love to see you drink the first glass of released water from fukushima, and then they could give you a years supply of bottlled water so you can drink it everyday.

I'd have no problem drinking it.

As I've said all along, they should have used it to irrigate rice in all neighboring prefectures. This filtered water meets all international safety standards.

Tritium is also found in nature, in drinking water and rain. You live on tritium, did tritium harm you directly? No.

Very well stated.

If I had access to this treated water - and a fair bit of capital behind me - I would bottle and sell it as "premium" water - possibly as "Tritium Water" - an "ion supply energy drink".

I guarantee it would sell and sell well all through Asia - except in Korea, of course.

Nations like the UK, France, Korea, China, Taiwan, The US and Canada release far more tritium into the oceans than Japan. No one can deny this fact. People just want to bully Japan.

Nuclear power plants in France, England, the United States, China, and South Korea all have higher tritium emissions than Japan, but if you don't see it as a problem, there is no particular problem with Japan's treated water.

The reason why nuclear power plants in various countries are built along the coast is because some countries dump contaminated water directly into the sea.

Koreans do not criticize the nuclear power plants of such countries at all, and only criticize Japan, which considers the environment as much as possible as treated water.

If you're not Korean, you'll understand how little tritium reaches South Korea after circling the Pacific Ocean.

And do you expect the South Koreans to be objective and impartial?

Yes. Otherwise, why would the Japanese gov invite them to Japan to meet with their experts and discuss?

La vie douceToday  12:58 pm JST

And do you expect the South Koreans to be objective and impartial?"

Yes, thats why Japanese government invited them. Do you have any proof that they were not objective? Show it then.

Apparently you are unaware that South Korea stated they would never reverse their ban on fish and agricultural products, regardless of the outcome of their inspection and visit.

"But the US and other countries got no criticism for dumping waste into the ocean."

Yes they do, stop spreading misinformation.

Apparently you are unaware that the Kori reactor in S Korea releases more tritium every year than the total to be released from Fukushima over two decades.

Apparently you are not aware that nuclear plants in the UK, China, Canada, France, virtually everywhere release tritium constantly. Care to present some publicized criticism?

Jesus. How are they going to separate the tritium to only dilute it? Sigh.

These standards are not contemplating the continuous disposal along decades in the same spot.

Sounds like you are asking for probatio diabolica. Japan officials had explained the dilution process in accordance with regulatory standards, but you are basically complaining "how can you be so sure there won't be any negative effects in next few decades". Don't tell me other countries don't dump radioactive wastes other than the tritium.

Why this obsession with Korea? The topic is Fukushima.

Did you not see the headline picture? In case you aren't aware, Korea is the one constantly obsessed with Japan. Yes, I'm aware of Japanese fishermen, China, and other Pacific Island nation (wherever that is) but a rally in front of National Assembly in Seoul? Why??

Nuclear contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean? Not only all the fish in the Pacific Ocean will be contaminated and injurious to humans who eat it.

All oceans on Planet Earth included the Arctic and the Antartic will be nuclear contaminated. Is the Government of Japan so feeble minded as to believe what the feeble minded Japanese scientists tell them?

Obviously! What is the United Nations doing about this mad plan? What is the World Health Organization doing about this mad plan?*

NOTHING?

RodneyToday  09:14 am JST

It is not just harmful tritium being released. There are also a number of alpha radionuclides that ALPS can’t remove.

It reduces the concentration to up to 1/1,000 of published, accepted standards for entire world, then diluted again x 100. And they’re mostly gamma, not alpha.

For heaven’s sake. What the heck are you talking about?

Fighto!Today  07:26 am JST

The diluted water being released is safer than most drinking water.

I would love to see you drink the first glass of released water from fukushima, and then they could give you a years supply of bottlled water so you can drink it everyday.

The concentration of scientific ignorance is more dangerous than the concentration of tritium.

lunaticToday  05:03 am JST

What I'm doing is I'm actively pushing back against unscientific and even antiscientific hysteria.

“There is no scientific evidence.

It has never been done before, no experiment has never dumped radioactive waste for decades in controlled conditions.

The correct postulation would be not to dump the waste until get certainty of what will happen to the biosphere”

——

I recommend you get some biohazard suits to wear this rainy season. You don’t want any naturally occurring tritium in rain to contaminate you. It’s the biggest source of tritium, you know?

And stop washing clothes, vegetables, your face and brushing your teeth. There’s more tritium in your water supply.

And moving to New Zealand won’t help. It rains there too.

Looks good enough to me.

*Regarding these radioactive materials, purification using the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) and other equipment is conducted prior to discharge into the sea to reduce their concentrations to levels below their regulatory standards, and then, dilution by 100 times or more is conducted together with tritium. Through these procedures, concentrations of radioactive materials that were contained in contaminated water are reduced to less than 1/100 of the regulatory standards when the water is actually discharged.*

*In ALPS treated water after purification using ALPS and other equipment but before dilution, concentrations of many of the contained nuclides other than tritium are reduced to levels below detection limits. There remains the possibility that Cesium 134/137, Cobalt 60, Ruthenium 106, Antimony 125, Strontium 90, Iodine 129, Technetium 99, Carbon 14, etc., may be detected but at concentrations below the regulatory standards.*

https://www.env.go.jp/en/chemi/rhm/basic-info/1st/pdf/basic-1st-06.pdf

The problem here is that the majority of Koreans only want to point a finger at Japan and they don't actually care about actual topics at hand. That's why no Koreans seem to care how much contaminated water their own nuclear power reactors are dumping into their nearby oceans every year. The same logic applies to any disputes between Japan and Korea.

*There remains the possibility that Cesium 134/137, Cobalt 60, Ruthenium 106, Antimony 125, Strontium 90, Iodine 129, Technetium 99, Carbon 14, etc., may be detected but at concentrations below the regulatory standards.**

These standards are not contemplating the continuous disposal along decades in the same spot.

The problem here is [...] Koreans [...] Koreans [...] and Korea.

Why this obsession with Korea? The topic is Fukushima.

I think TEPCO or the Japanese government behind it has no other choice but release treated/diluted water into the ocean. Any company in any country might have resorted to the same solution. The catch is: Is generating electricity by nuclear power so profitable as they tout so much, especially in view of the fact that inevitable accidents such as met by TEPCO could occur anywhere?

So how about all of the people leaving negative comments on here give a solution for the problem. Something needs to be done with the water, they can not just keep on filling up tanks and storing them.

I certainly don't have one and I am sure the experts have considered all options coming to the conclusion this is the safest. But I am sure the govt would listen to all your expert advice.

If any other country was doing this, there would be no issues.

Maybe you are too young to remember but the Soviet Union got ALOT more criticism for handling of Chernobyl.

The US also got criticism (although it was only domestic) for its handling of 3 Mile Island.

>

The same people pushing Fukushima products are guaranteed to have a scandal of them overheard saying “oh god no, I’d never eat that nuclear garbage” or something close to it. I can almost smell the scandal coming.

ALPS technology is still immature and its safety is questionable.

During the operations of ALPS, there have been constant issues:

1. In 2006, four water leaks were discovered in the device.

2. In 2018, radioactive substances such as strontium were found to exceed the standard in the so-called treated water.

3. In 2021, nearly half of filters used by ALPS to absorb radioactive substances in exhaust gas were damaged, these filters had just been replaced two years earlier.

This water is literally purer than regular water out of the tap in Japan. Dumb people just don’t understand science.

Global Times has a thought provoking infographic from yesterday's newspaper:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202306/1292462.shtml

What possibly could go wrong?

What happened to your scientific tribulations?!

Lots of unknowns: ALPS technology is still bleeding edge, the repercussions on the biofauna are unknown, water in direct contact with fuel roots is not the kind of waste we are used to, etc.

If you wanna talk science, read the scientific papers that give much better alternatives than just, - Dump it somewhere out of sight! -.

you are basically complaining "how can you be so sure there won't be any negative effects in next few decades". 

That's exactly what the international community is worried about. We have never done anything like this before. No science can foresee the outcome of this.

 a rally in front of National Assembly in Seoul? Why??

The reason is simple. The Kisha Club in Japan won't allow the Japanese protesters to be trumpeted by the media. We can only see protesters from countries not controlled by the Kisha Club.

La vie douceToday  12:58 pm JST

"Everything in the comment above is blatantly and demonstrably false. It’s outrageous to post this."

Then you should rebut his comment points one by one. Unless you can't of course.

It’s been done many times before. You apparently don’t know the history of the topic. I’m a person of science, many here are people of beliefs.

we have been monitoring "the repercussions on the biofauna" for similar and much larger discharges for decades

No, we have not. This waste is much worst. It's not only Tritium but much worse heavy elements.

So? We can, and will, measure what the end result contains. 

AFAIK the TEPCO tests can only detect about 200 radioactive elements, they choose to ignore the vast majority.

That's rich, coming from someone who just regurgitates half sentences and bullet points.

It's looking like you work for TEPCO's PR team.

How can you be so sure that the plan is flawless and scientifically proven?

Would you take responsibility when it fails?

Do you contemplate any other alternatives?

Jesus. How are they going to separate the tritium to only dilute it? Sigh.

You really don't get it?

To dilute the water until Tritium goes below x100 the international standard.

Reading the previous post will give you the context you need.

Aly RustomToday  08:53 am JST

Everything in the comment above is blatantly and demonstrably false. It’s outrageous to post this.

You are aware that the comment above that one is yours...

Of course. I quoted you and separated it by a line and “less than” symbol to add my comment. It’s called a carat in programming.

Of course. I quoted you and separated it by a line and “less than” symbol to add my comment. It’s called a carat in programming.

you just quoted me and posted

Then you said the above comment (which is yours) is blatantly false.

No problem. Moving on

comments are based on Japan hate. They ignore the science.

Claims of total safety are not supported by the available information.

The risks of wastewater to the Pacific

Releasing radioactive contaminated water into the Pacific is an irreversible action with transboundary and transgenerational implications. As such, it should not be unilaterally undertaken by any country.

That glass of water would be cleaner than the bottled water your buying at Costco or current tap water.

What part of that sentence do you not understand?

Yes we have. 

No, you haven't.

You keep talking about tritium. Ignoring the inconvenient ones, like carbon-14, and strontium-90 more than 100 times the regulatory standards.

Actually only a few dozen are relevant. 

Are carbon-14 and strontium-90 relevant?

And none of the alternatives turned out to be feasible.

What's the reason? Cost, right? What would be cheaper than dump it into the Ocean.

What can go wrong?!

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Where do YOU come up with this stuff?

The tests TEPCO uses are not capable of detecting the big polluters.

You are talking about diluting x100 the Tritium.

Japan's government announced plans in April 2021 to gradually release the treated but still slightly radioactive water following its dilution to what it says are safe levels.

Didnt the government change it's guidelines regarding what it considered is "safe" just to get past it's own laws and regulations here?

Everything in the comment above is blatantly and demonstrably false. It’s outrageous to post this.

(BTW, you cannot use a carat in post, it deletes everything after.)

I don't follow what you are trying to say.

Not just the fishing industry is opposed. Much of the entire world is opposed. Much.

South Korea and China. Thats it.

The Oceans of Planet Earth Are ALREADY polluted!

AND getting MORE polluted EVERY DAY!

NOW JAPAN WANTS TO POLLUTE IT WITH NUCLEAR WASTE!!!

Why would anyone be so cheerful and positive about throwing waste in the Pacific?!

Super happy-happy knowing for a fact that the plan cannot fail.

Are these posters on TEPCO's payroll?

What I'm doing is I'm actively pushing back against unscientific and even antiscientific hysteria.

There is no scientific evidence.

It has never been done before, no experiment has never dumped radioactive waste for decades in controlled conditions.

The correct postulation would be not to dump the waste until get certainty of what will happen to the biosphere.

The Japanese government’s safety level for Tritium contamination is many times that of the WHO level.

Making levels of radiation ‘legal’ doesn’t mean that harm will be avoided

The government has yet to gain my ‘understanding’

Not just the fishing industry is opposed. Much of the entire world is opposed. Much.

The tests at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant use fresh water instead of the treated water, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings said.

Yeh sure they are! How could you trust anything these criminally negligent buffoons say???

The Japanese fishermen - as well as the usual Korean protesters- need to look to the science rather than being hysterical.

A well written post. If any other country was doing this, there would be no issues. But its Japan. And there is a lot of hate for Japan.

who insist Fukushima radioactive wastewater is safe are only beneficiaries of nuclear industries.

Explanation of Japanese government and Tepco who are still repeating deception or concealment about inconvenient fact for themselves have no reliability.

London treaty bans dumping waste from ships.

Then Japan made long wastewater pipe to exploit loophole of treaty.

I guess one positive thing is that when Korean nutters shutdown a road it only impacts Korea.

Yes. Otherwise, why would the Japanese gov invite them to Japan to meet with their experts and discuss?

Because the South Korea government requested it and Japan was trying to mend fences with South Korea. No one in Japan expects South Korea to green light it. If they did, the Koreans would face a backlash at home. Everyone knows the relations between South Korea and Japan is bad.

Did anybody else hear any of the results of the team of South Korean officials who were invited to Fukushima to see the plan about releasing the water. I haven't heard boo about it whether they signed off on it or not. I was waiting for their response, but nada so far.

Yeah I was wondering about that too. Nothing. My personal guess is the findings didn't favor Japan, so they swept it under the rug.

And do you expect the South Koreans to be objective and impartial?

Japanese officials say the diluted water will be released into the ocean over decades, making it harmless to people and marine life.

Does that person really eat Fukushima products after tainted water release? Or just talking for PR only?

I'll stop eating seafood, there are other food sources in Japan, natto, ramen, tonkatsu etc.

Everything in the comment above is blatantly and demonstrably false. It’s outrageous to post this.

You are aware that the comment above that one is yours...

Maybe you are too young to remember but the Soviet Union got ALOT more criticism for handling of Chernobyl.

The US also got criticism (although it was only domestic) for its handling of 3 Mile Island.

But the US and other countries got no criticism for dumping waste into the ocean.

Because the South Korea government requested it and Japan was trying to mend fences with South Korea.

The fences were already being mended in other ways. They didn't need to meet to mend fences on this topic.

No one in Japan expects South Korea to green light it.

Then it makes no sense at all for Japan to have that meeting in the first place.

If they did, the Koreans would face a backlash at home.

Not at all. This was not a political issue. And the proof is it wasn't the politicians in charge of the meeting. The delegation involved a team of korean experts meeting with their Japanese counterparts. It wasn't political. It was a scientific meeting.

Everyone knows the relations between South Korea and Japan is bad.

Politics has nothing to do with it

But the US and other countries got no criticism for dumping waste into the ocean.

Sure they have.

Japan’s government has set up a fund to promote Fukushima seafood

Looking forward to see the yurukyaras, "Radiant Shrimp" and "Tritium Tuna".

This radiant underwater heroes ensure the safety and well-being of the ocean with its unique radioactive powers.

Japanese group think,this why a single American could put think a group of Japanese in decision, American are wired to make many decisions,but decide the one with the outcome they want,whether it wrong or right

Next step Japan will do is to force other countries to accept Fukushima products no matter what. Other country really need to fight in international level just to reject those foods.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/South-Korea-wins-WTO-appeal-on-Fukushima-seafood-ban2

Didnt the government change it's guidelines regarding what it considered is "safe" just to get past it's own laws and regulations here?

Yup- and I remember my martial arts teacher at the time being furious at the incompetence of the gov in doing so.

The Japanese government’s safety level for Tritium contamination is many times that of the WHO level.

Making levels of radiation ‘legal’ doesn’t mean that harm will be avoided

The government has yet to gain my ‘understanding’

Same here.

Next step Japan will do is to force other countries to accept Fukushima products no matter what. Other country really need to fight in international level just to reject those foods.

Absolutely.

I'll stop eating seafood, there are other food sources in Japan, natto, ramen, tonkatsu etc.

May not be a bad idea..

*Not just the fishing industry is opposed. Much of the entire world is opposed. Much.*

true.

Did anybody else hear any of the results of the team of South Korean officials who were invited to Fukushima to see the plan about releasing the water. I haven't heard boo about it whether they signed off on it or not. I was waiting for their response, but nada so far.

Yeah I was wondering about that too. Nothing. My personal guess is the findings didn't favor Japan, so they swept it under the rug.

This all sounds good on paper. However, the fact is, nobody knows what effect large amounts of radioactive water have on the environment. This plan should be aborted just for thst single reason. It's too late after it is released to find out there is a problem. There is a possibilty this release will disrupt the breeding cycles of fishes and may even cause mass fish kills. A deep bow and solemn apology is not going to repair any damage to the ocean and fish populations. This is massive gamble on a global scale and should be stopped!

THIS!!!

How could you trust anything these criminally negligent buffoons say???

I don't