Japan is awaiting a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday. The report approves Japan’s plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the ocean. However, neighboring countries strongly oppose this plan.
The International Atomic Energy Agency report was drafted after a two-week mission to Japan. It is expected to declare the safety of releasing the water. Nonetheless, countries like South Korea and China are likely to criticize the report due to concerns about the impact on their own fisheries.
The Japanese government claims it has no other option but to release the water. Currently, the water is stored in approximately 1,000 tanks at the Fukushima plant, and space is running out. Most of the radioactivity has been removed from the water through treatment, but it still contains tritium, a mildly radioactive isotope that poses no harm to humans in small doses.
Although the IAEA report is not binding, it will likely influence the Japanese government’s decision on whether to proceed with the release. The government is expected to reach a decision in the next few months.
The release of Fukushima water is a contentious issue with no consensus on its safety. Some experts argue that the levels of tritium in the water are too low to be harmful, while others acknowledge the unknown long-term effects of tritium exposure.
Furthermore, the release of the water is expected to adversely affect the Japanese fishing industry, as certain countries may impose trade restrictions on Japanese seafood.
