Japan Begins Dumping Treated Radioactive Water Into Pacific Ocean

Although nuclear waste has been treated using the ALPS filtration system, the only element that cannot be filtered out of it is the radioactive isotope tritium.

TOKYO - Japan has begun dumping ALPS-treated Fukushima nuclear waste into the Pacific Ocean, causing China to ban Japanese seafood. Some South Koreans held protests upon hearing the news. 

Map: Fukushima_I_Nuclear_Power_Plant_Location.png: Saneefderivative work: Babbage, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

The IAEA released a statement on August 24th regarding the announcement saying, "Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) today started discharging ALPS treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the sea, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts present at the site confirmed.

As part of the IAEA’s multiyear safety review of the discharge, the IAEA  team is present to monitor the discharge and assess Japan’s application  of all relevant international safety standards for the water discharge."

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated, "IAEA experts are there on the ground to serve as the eyes of the international community and ensure that the discharge is being carried out as planned consistent with IAEA safety standards.

Through our presence, we contribute to generating the necessary confidence that the process is carried out in a safe and transparent way”.

Water Filtered, But Tritium Cannot Be Removed

Although nuclear waste has been treated using the ALPS filtration system, the only element that cannot be filtered out of it is the radioactive isotope tritium, which is an element of hydrogen.

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