UN inspectors test Fukushima fish
by AFP Staff Writers
Iwaki, Japan (AFP) Oct 19, 2023
UN inspectors took samples from a fish market near the Fukushima nuclear power plant on Thursday following the release of wastewater from the wrecked facility in August.
China and Russia have banned Japanese seafood imports since the discharge began but Japan says it is safe, a view backed so far by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Some 540 Olympic swimming pools worth of water have been collected since a tsunami sent three reactors at Fukushima-Daiichi into meltdown in 2011 in one of the world's worst nuclear disasters.
Japan says that the water has been filtered by its special ALPS technology of radioactive substances -- except tritium -- and diluted with seawater.
Japan says tests have shown that tritium levels are within safe limits.
The IAEA team comprising scientists from China, South Korea and Canada were collecting fish, water and sediment samples this week to verify Japan's findings.
Paul McGinnity, a member of the mission, told reporters that the aim was "to ascertain whether the Japanese labs are measuring and analysing properly" tritium levels.
"Tritium is the concern because tritium levels as you know are relatively high because it is not removed by the ALPS process," McGinnity said.
"I can say that we don't expect to see any change (in tritium levels), certainly in the fish. We do expect to see a small rise in levels of tritium in seawater samples very close to the discharge point. But otherwise we don't. We expect to find levels that are very similar to what we measured last year."
Samples will be sent back to labs in the team members' home countries for independent review, and the IAEA will evaluate and publish those results.
Russia this week followed its ally China in banning Japanese seafood imports, although it buys relatively small volumes.
Japan, which has called China's ban politically motivated, said Moscow's move was an "unjust" step "without any scientific basis."
The water release is aimed at making space to begin removing the highly dangerous radioactive fuel and rubble from the wrecked reactors.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
market samples
Summary:
UN inspectors took samples from a fish market near the Fukushima nuclear power plant on Thursday following the release of wastewater from the wrecked facility in August. China and Russia have banned Japanese seafood imports since the discharge began, but Japan says it is safe, a view backed so far by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA team is collecting samples to verify Japan’s findings that the water has been filtered and diluted with seawater, and that tritium levels are within safe limits. Samples will be sent back to labs in the team members’ home countries for independent review, and Russia has followed China in banning Japanese seafood imports.Economic, Environmental, and Safety Implications:
The economic implications of this event are large. Japan’s seafood industry is facing a risk of significant losses, as China and Russia have restricted imports of Japanese seafood. Additionally, the cost of testing for tritium levels, and the cost of the IAEA mission, will be high. The environmental effects of the Fukushima disaster are still being felt, as the water released in August contains radioactive substances. The IAEA mission will help to assess the safety of the fish market near the Fukushima plant, and it will also help to assess the safety of the filtered and diluted water.Geopolitical and Societal Impacts:
The geopolitical implications of this event are significant. The restrictions put in place by China and Russia have caused tension between Japan and these two countries. The results of the IAEA mission will have a large impact on the relationship between Japan and China and Russia, and it will also affect other nations with regards to their decisions on imports of Japanese seafood. The societal impacts of this event include the fear and anxiety of people living near the Fukushima plant, and those consuming Japanese seafood. These concerns are largely based on the unknown long-term effects of the Fukushima disaster.
Conclusion:
The UN inspectors have taken samples from a fish market near the Fukushima nuclear power plant following the release of wastewater from the wrecked facility in August. China and Russia have banned Japanese seafood imports, and the IAEA mission is collecting samples to verify Japan’s findings that the water has been filtered and diluted with seawater, and that tritium levels are within safe limits. The economic, environmental, and safety implications are large, and the geopolitical and societal impacts are significant. The results of the IAEA mission will have a large impact on the relationship between Japan and China and Russia, and it will also affect other nations with regards to their decisions on imports of Japanese seafood.
Investigative Questions:
-What is the long-term impact of the Fukushima disaster? -What are the safety standards for tritium levels in Japan? -What will be the economic and environmental consequences of the ban on Japanese seafood imports? -How will the results of the IAEA mission affect the relationship between Japan and China and Russia?
Comparison to Star Trek:
This situation is similar to the episode of Star Trek:
The Next Generation, “The Measure of a Man”, in which Data is on trial for his right to self-determination and freedom. In this case, Japan is on trial, as it is being judged by the UN inspectors and China and Russia for its safety measures and the safety of its seafood. Like Data, Japan is fighting for its right to exist in the face of opposition.
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