Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear reactor, announced on Friday that seawater samples taken after the release of wastewater showed radioactivity levels well within safe limits. The start of the discharge on Thursday led to China imposing a ban on all Japanese seafood imports.
TEPCO conducted rapid tests on Thursday afternoon and confirmed that the radioactivity levels in the seawater were safe. The analysis revealed that the concentration was below 1,500 becquerels per liter (bq/L), far lower than the national safety standard of 60,000 bq/L. The results were consistent with simulations and provided reassurance that the discharge was within safety limits.
TEPCO spokesman Keisuke Matsuo stated that the company would continue daily analysis over the next month to ensure ongoing safety. The objective is to address concerns by providing clear explanations backed by scientific evidence.
Japan’s environment ministry collected seawater samples from 11 different locations on Friday, and the results are expected to be released on Sunday. The Fisheries Agency also collected fish samples from near the discharge pipe.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supported TEPCO’s assertion, confirming that samples from the diluted water prepared for discharge indicated safe levels of tritium. IAEA experts on the ground are overseeing the process to ensure it adheres to safety standards.
While TEPCO maintains that the water released has been filtered of all radioactive elements except tritium, environmental group Greenpeace disputes this claim, expressing concerns about the filtration process and its effectiveness. Despite differing opinions, Japan’s move to release the wastewater triggered China’s anger and resulted in an expanded ban on Japanese aquatic produce.
Japan’s Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura urged China to reconsider the ban and emphasized Japan’s commitment to safe and transparent practices. The US State Department expressed satisfaction with Japan’s science-based approach to the release.
As the debate continues, Japan aims to demonstrate that the discharge is being conducted with scientific rigor, while China’s concerns over ocean contamination persist.