Japan "No Tritium Detected in First Seawater Test After Contaminated Water Discharge"

Results of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment Survey

Japan's Ministry of the Environment announced on the 27th that no radioactive substance tritium was detected in seawater around the contaminated water (referred to as "treated water" by the Japanese government) from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to local media such as Yomiuri Shimbun, on the morning of the 25th, the day after the contaminated water discharge, seawater was collected from 11 locations within 40 km of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to measure tritium concentration. It was confirmed that all locations were below the detection limit of 7 to 8 becquerels (Bq) per liter. Among these, radioactive substances such as cesium-137 were also measured at three locations, but all were below the detection limit.

The Ministry of the Environment stated, "At all locations, the tritium concentration was below the detectable limit, confirming that there is no impact on humans or the environment."

The Ministry of the Environment announced the seawater analysis results around the nuclear power plant for the first time since the start of contaminated water discharge on the 24th. Going forward, seawater will be collected weekly from 11 locations to analyze tritium concentration.

Separately, investigations conducted by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the Japan Fisheries Agency, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also showed tritium levels below the standard after the discharge. The Fisheries Agency announced on the 25th that no tritium was detected in fish caught near the plant's water discharge outlet.

Earlier, TEPCO analyzed seawater samples collected on the 25th from 10 locations within a 3 km radius of the plant and reported that tritium concentration was very low on the second day of discharge. TEPCO stated that tritium levels at all locations were below the detectable limit and no significant changes were observed.

If tritium levels exceeding 700 Bq per liter within 3 km of the plant or 30 Bq per liter beyond that distance are detected, the discharge will be suspended.

According to the webpage established by the IAEA to disclose discharge data and safety evaluation details, as of 11 a.m. on the same day, the tritium concentration in the diluted contaminated water was 207 Bq per liter.

TEPCO is discharging about 460 tons of diluted contaminated water into the sea daily. The tritium concentration during discharge is regulated to be below 1,500 Bq per liter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.