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Fukushima Dumps More Contaminated Water
1 Jun
Summary
- Japan began its 20th nuclear wastewater discharge into the ocean.
- The current release will add 7,800 tonnes of water with tritium.
- The controversial operation started in August 2023 despite opposition.
Japan initiated its 20th round of discharging nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. This operation, which began in August 2023, is scheduled to continue until June 19. The current release will add approximately 7,800 tonnes of wastewater to the ocean.
This water contains an estimated 1.3 trillion becquerels of radioactive tritium. The Fukushima plant suffered core meltdowns in 2011 following a major earthquake and tsunami, leading to a level-7 nuclear accident. Despite significant opposition from local fishing communities and international bodies, the discharge of contaminated water has proceeded, with nearly 150,000 tonnes released in 19 previous rounds.
