The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a United Nations body, has confirmed that Japan’s plan to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean meets international safety standards. This conclusion was reached after a comprehensive assessment and safety review conducted by an IAEA task force made up of top specialists and internationally recognized nuclear safety experts from eleven countries. The IAEA stated that the controlled release of the treated water would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.
According to the plan, around 1.2 million cubic meters of water used to cool the fuel rods of the Fukushima plant will be released over the next three to four decades in order to prevent accidental leaks and facilitate the decommissioning of the plant. The IAEA will be conducting an independent safety review during the discharge phase, with continued on-site presence and live online monitoring.
Although the treated water has undergone an advanced liquid processing system to remove almost all radioactivity, it still contains tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is difficult to completely eliminate. However, before the water is discharged, Japanese authorities will dilute it to bring the tritium levels below regulatory standards. The IAEA noted that multiple nuclear power plants worldwide regularly release wastewater containing higher concentrations of tritium than TEPCO’s treated water.
Despite the IAEA’s affirmation, there has been backlash against Japan’s plans. Nations such as China and South Korea, as well as local fishing groups, tourism companies, and beach businesses, have expressed concerns about the potential health and safety implications of the water release. The Pacific Islands Forum has urged Japan to delay the discharge until definitive environmental and human health impacts are established.
However, the IAEA emphasized that its assessment is based on a thorough review of protection and safety measures, independent sampling, data analysis, and multiple review missions to Japan. They acknowledge the societal, political, and environmental concerns raised by Japan’s plan, but maintain that their evaluation is grounded in scientific analysis.
TEPCO has acknowledged that the water tanks will require secondary treatment to further filter out radioactive substances and that there will be emergency shutdown protocols in case of abnormalities during the release process.