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Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 20 (Global Hotspot)Japan will decide that the treatment of pollution from Fukushima nuclear wastewater discharges should be prudent
Xinhua News Agency reporter
More than 9 years have passed since the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, but your nuclear wastewater treatment problem has yet to be solved. According to Japanese media reports, the Japanese government has recently considered discharging a large amount of nuclear wastewater stored in the sea, as the nuclear wastewater storage tank at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is at about to fill up.
Since nuclear wastewater entering the sea may have a greater impact on the surrounding marine ecological environment and fishery resources, this measure has caused great concern in Japan and neighboring countries. Observers call on Japan to make cautious decisions based on full consultation with neighboring countries.
【News facts】
According to Japan’s Jiji News Agency, the Japanese government discussed Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater treatment method at a cabinet meeting on the 16th. It is currently planning to dilute the wastewater and discharge it into the Pacific Ocean. He is expected to make a decision within this month. Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Hiroshi Kajiyama, said that the current situation does not allow for further delay.
The Japanese fisheries representative urged the government not to discharge radiation-polluted water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, believing that discharging polluted water into the sea would undermine the fishing industry’s efforts to restore its reputation over the years. years.
On the 8th of this month, Hiroshi Kishi, president of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives of Japan, said: “We strongly oppose the discharge of sewage into the sea, because this may have a catastrophic impact on the future of fishing. Japanese “. Once the government allows the discharge of sewage into the sea, other countries will further restrict the import of Japanese aquatic products.
In recent years, South Korea has repeatedly expressed grave concern over Japan’s handling of the Fukushima nuclear contamination. In August last year, South Korea asked Japan to explain the handling of nuclear contamination in Fukushima, fearing that this matter could affect the safety of athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics. In response to the Fukushima sewage discharge issue, the South Korean Foreign Ministry stated on 16 this month that the South Korean government has launched an interdepartmental response mechanism to closely monitor developments.
【In-depth analysis】
Analysts believe that Japan’s plan to discharge nuclear wastewater into the sea will affect the livelihoods of Japanese fishermen and farmers and may also affect relations with neighboring countries.
After the Fukushima nuclear accident, many countries and regions restricted the importation of Japanese agricultural and fishery products. The South Korean government banned the import of aquatic products from eight counties, including Fukushima, in 2013. In April last year, the World Trade Organization issued a final ruling on the dispute between Japan and South Korea over the import of aquatic products, and Japan lost the case.
Most people in Japan, including Fukushima, believe that the discharge of nuclear wastewater into the sea is an irresponsible “cowardly act”. Fishermen and farmers are also concerned that this will cause consumers to reject seafood and local crops and affect their livelihoods.
【Instant comment】
The Fukushima nuclear accident caused the leakage of radioactive materials, which has had a major impact on the marine environment, food security and human health. The long-term impact of nuclear wastewater at sea is difficult to assess and, once serious consequences occur, it will be difficult to recover.
Japan should thoroughly assess the potential impact of the Fukushima nuclear power plant’s tritium-containing wastewater treatment plan, actively and promptly disclose information in a strict, accurate, open and transparent manner, and make cautious decisions about the basis of full consultation with neighboring countries.
[Enlace de fondo]On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck the northeastern part of Japan, causing a huge tsunami. Affected by this, a large amount of radioactive material leaked from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), causing the worst nuclear accident after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Soviet Union.
As of September this year, thousands of storage tanks at nuclear power plants have stored approximately 1.23 million tons of wastewater, which is expected to reach its capacity limit in the summer of 2022. TEPCO said most of radioactive substances in the wastewater have leaked out and still contain tritium or super heavy hydrogen.
Japan’s “Mainichi Shimbun” reported that the Japanese government decided to discharge nuclear wastewater into the sea. You also need to buy new equipment and accept the Atomic Energy Regulatory Commission review. It may take two years to download. “Yomiuri Shimbun” reported that this nuclear wastewater still needs to be treated before being discharged, and the whole process is expected to take 30 years. (Reporters: Liu Yifang, Liu Zan, Wang Xinfang; Editors: Tang Zhiqiang, Wang Fengfeng)
