the Fukushima Water Waste Release

During Summer 2023, Japan communicated that it would soon start releasing in the Pacific Ocean treated nuclear waste from the Fukushima power plant as a result of the meltdown which occurred 12 years ago. Since then, water has been pumped into the reactor to cool it down gradually and consequently producing a regular contaminated water waste. This news was met with lots of contradictory criticism: how would local fishermen communities be impacted? How will the waste affect marine pollution level? Is it even safe to discard this remains?

Although the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gave the green light for the release, it is scientifically proven that a radioactive element of hydrogen called tritium cannot be removed (yet) from the water as there exists no technology able to do so. The scientific community is at a disagreement, some say the levels of tritium are not significant enough for an environmental impact to occur, others claim there is no sufficient evidence to back this argument. 

The main challenge lies in the inability to control exactly all the elements which would end up in the Ocean as well as the effect it would have on marine life, considering the size of the risk (as it would be directly injected into the whole worldwide ocean system) there should not be any action taken before confirmation of safety is unanimously agreed. 


Ultimately, it is clear that given the ambiguity of the consequences of such actions, a more in depth and considerate analysis should take place until sufficient measures can take place. Local communities, who would directly or indirectly be impacted by such contamination, are the ones who afterwards would be majorly impacted both from a health and safety as well as economic point of view (considering they're mostly fishermen). Therefore, it is imperative to consider first of all social justice for all involved actors to make sure equitable decision making takes place.

[318 words]


References:

Navin Singh Khadka, (2023), The science behind the Fukushima waste water release, BBC World Service, Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66610977

Tessa Wong, (2023), Fukushima: What are the concerns over waste water release?, BBC News, Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66106162

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