Phnom Penh, Cambodia - The Embassy of Japan in Cambodia has announced that the Japanese government intends to discharge the "ALPS treated water" from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea during the summer months, pending further considerations. The ALPS treated water is purified from contaminated water at the Fukushima site and undergoes a process using the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) to remove radioactive materials, with the exception of tritium.
According to the Embassy, the ALPS treated water meets international regulations, with tritium levels measuring 1/40th of the regulatory standard and approximately 1/7th of the World Health Organization's drinking water standard. In comparison, other countries discharge higher tritium levels as liquid waste into rivers and seas in compliance with their domestic laws and regulations.
The Japanese government has been diligently preparing for the discharge process under the complete monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). On July 4, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi presented the "IAEA Comprehensive Report" on the safety review of ALPS treated water to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The report, which concluded that the discharge plan aligns with international safety standards and will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment, was published on the IAEA website the same day.
Director General Grossi assured that the discharge would adhere to international standards, posing no harm to public health or the environment. The Japanese government, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), and the IAEA will continue to conduct environmental monitoring after the discharge, with data being made available to the public in a transparent manner.
The plan to release the treated wastewater from Fukushima has been in the works for years, as space to contain the contaminated material runs out. The Fukushima nuclear plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, resulting in the contamination of water within the plant with highly radioactive materials. New water has since been pumped into the reactors to cool fuel debris, while groundwater and rainwater have seeped in, creating additional radioactive wastewater that requires storage and treatment.
The approval from the IAEA for the wastewater release plan has not alleviated concerns among neighboring countries and local fishermen, who still bear the impact of the 2011 disaster. Some doubt the findings of the IAEA assessment, with China arguing that the report does not provide proof of the legality and legitimacy of the Fukushima wastewater release.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company has constructed over 1,000 large tanks to store the current 1.32 million metric tons of wastewater, equivalent to more than 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools. While tritium itself is considered weak and unable to penetrate the skin, concerns arise regarding its potential effects on cancer risk when consumed in large quantities.
Robert H. Richmond, director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, voiced reservations about the plan after reviewing its details. Richmond is part of a group of international scientists working with the Pacific Island Forum to assess the wastewater release plan. He emphasized that diluting the wastewater might not sufficiently reduce its impact on marine life, as pollutants like tritium can accumulate in the marine ecosystem and disrupt the delicate balance.
Opposing views have emerged surrounding the risks and benefits of the plan. The United States has expressed support for Japan's decision, stating that it follows globally accepted nuclear safety standards. Taiwan's Atomic Energy Council believes the released tritium levels will be below the detection limit and have minimal impact on Taiwan. However, neighboring countries like China and the Pacific Islands Forum have raised concerns about potential harm to the marine environment and human health. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has shown support for the plan, even stating his willingness.
