Controlled Release of Radioactive Water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: Should We Be Concerned?

Maria F. Ferreira, Andrew Turner, Awadhesh N. Jha*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debate

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Abstract

Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, the decision to release more than 1 million tons of radioactive water into the ocean by the Japanese government, with approval from the IAEA, has divided public and scientific opinion. The discharge began on August 24, 2023, with the premise that, after removal of long-lived radionuclides (i.e., 137Cs and 90Sr), tritium (3H), the primary remaining radionuclide as tritiated water (HTO), will be sufficiently and safely diluted over a 30-year period. (1) Concerns, however, relate to (a) the safety of seafood and its consumers and (b) potential long-term consequences on human and environmental health.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4840-4843
Number of pages4
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume58
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Mar 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry

Keywords

  • tritium (H)
  • Fukushima Daiichi
  • environmental impact
  • human health
  • radioactive water
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Fukushima Nuclear Accident
  • Japan
  • Cesium Radioisotopes/analysis
  • Nuclear Power Plants
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Radiation Monitoring

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