The Shadow over Fukushima, is it something to be worried about?
Via NBC news
All those horrors of radioactive poisoning have become a reality: Japan’s decision to discharge treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster into the Pacific Ocean has ignited international debates about the action. Among the nations involved, the United States has notably expressed support for Japan's approach, sparking discussions about the underlying reasons for this stance. Other nations that are closer to Japan, such as Korea, China, and Taiwan, all strongly condemn this action…
This wastewater is the product of the greatest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, the Fukushima disaster, also known as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. On March 11, 2011, Japan was hit with a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that led to a series of nuclear meltdowns, releases of radioactive materials, and widespread evacuations in the Nuclear Plant.
The release of these radioactive materials is set to begin on August 24th, 2023. The diluted wastewater will be distributed during the next 30 years into the Pacific Ocean through pipelines that extend one kilometer from the coast.
The greatest concern following the release of Fukushima wastewater is the risk of radioactive contamination. In fact, following the release of Japan’s nuclear waste, China immediately banned Japanese imported seafood in order to “prevent the risk of radioactive contamination of food safety”.
China has been extremely vocal about this, as Beijing’s foreign ministry issued a statement, “The ocean is the common property of all humanity, and forcibly starting the discharge of Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater into the ocean is an extremely selfish and irresponsible act that ignores international public interests,”
This concern affects other nations which forced them to issue a statement to Japan.
Other neighboring countries such as South Korea and North Korea have urged Japan to stop the Fukushima disposal. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo wanted “transparency” with Japan but emphasized that “excessive worry” is not necessary because if “executed properly”, there should not be much harm to the environment and to the people. However, South Korea still banned seafood imports from Fukushima. North Korea issued a statement urging the international community to stop Fukushima waste disposals.
However, aside from China, all the other countries see relatively no harm if the waste disposal is executed properly. South Korea even issued a statement saying the plan has no scientific or technical problems. It is about the execution and transparency of neighboring countries. Other countries, such as America and the UN nuclear watchdog, all approved of this disposal as the solution was “upon scientific grounds”. No other countries have yet to object to Japan’s disposal plan.
Understandably, there is extreme fear of Fukushima. The long-term consequences of releasing radioactive materials into the ocean are uncertain. Radioactive isotopes, with their long half-lives, could persist in the environment for decades or even centuries. This raises concerns about the gradual accumulation of radioactivity in marine life, which could ultimately affect humans.
This fear is most noticeable in China and South Korea. While China banned seafood from Japan altogether, South Korea has not taken such drastic measures. However, the South Korean public almost unanimously hates that radioactive water is being dumped in an ocean right at their doorsteps. Should South Koreans and the Chinese be worried?
The decision to release Fukushima wastewater into the ocean is subject to rigorous regulatory scrutiny. International organizations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN nuclear watchdog, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), provide guidelines, in-person presence in the disposal, and research to ensure that the disposal complies with established safety standards.
The IAEA issued a statement that the disposals will “have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.” With the UN nuclear watchdog approving of the disposals and IMO thoroughly reviewing the state of the disposals, there should not be anything to worry about for now.
Indeed, the worries are unfounded as long as one trusts in all the governments (except China) and the organizations involved because according to many of these organizations and the South Korean Government, the research is solid. The only thing that is unstable is the execution and whether Japan will abide by the restrictions and research. There is nothing to be worried about for now.