Concerns over Ecological Disaster from Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater Release and

TEPCO and the Japanese government's lies

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident (March 12, 2011) occurred the day after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Naoto Kan, the then Prime Minister of Japan, recently stated in the media that he learned about the nuclear accident through TV several hours after it happened, and that TEPCO did not report it to the Prime Minister. He also stated that while the Fukushima accident was primarily caused by the earthquake and tsunami, it was also a man-made disaster (人災) because TEPCO built the plant near the coast instead of on higher ground to cut costs.

Contaminated water continues to be generated at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, accumulating in reactors 1, 2, and 3. The debris (melted nuclear fuel) inside these reactors has such high radiation levels that it cannot be touched. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was criticized for lying that Fukushima was under control to secure the Olympic bid. (JoongAng Ilbo, March 11, 2021). [1]

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant's Generation Concept and Location Vulnerability

▶ Nuclear Power Generation Principle

Nuclear power generation uses the heat from the fission of uranium fuel to boil water. The steam generated then rotates a turbine to produce electricity. The Fukushima nuclear power plant encountered problems because it failed to cool the nuclear fuel. (Maeil Kyungje, April 6, 2011) [2]

Radioactive Decay and Radionuclide Leakage during Nuclear Accidents

Conceptual diagram of the leakage and environmental migration mechanisms of radionuclides in the event of a nuclear accident

Cesium, for instance, is released into the atmosphere as a gas but can transform into a liquid state. When the temperature drops below its melting point, it exists as solid particles. Therefore, most 'cesium' can travel far with the wind. (Radiation Medicine Webzine, March 4, 2021) [3]

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant's Ocean Discharge: Contaminated Water, Not Treated Water

Understanding the nuclear power generation process can quickly determine whether the water released from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is contaminated water or treated water.

The water currently being discharged into the ocean by Japan is not the water used to cool the steam from the turbines. Due to the tsunami accident, cooling pumps malfunctioned, causing the reactor fuel rods to melt down. Seawater used to cool the melted fuel and groundwater that seeped into the vicinity of the reactor mixed with nuclear materials, and this mixture has been stored in tanks.

‘Contaminated water’ contains radioactive nuclides such as tritium, cesium, and strontium. [4]

In a report titled 'The Reality of the Fukushima Radioactive Contaminated Water Crisis in 2020,' the international environmental organization Greenpeace stated that 'besides tritium, other radionuclides in contaminated water such as carbon-14, strontium-90, cesium, plutonium, and iodine are even more dangerous.' They added that 'these nuclides can accumulate in the ocean for tens of thousands of years, causing severe radiation damage to everything from food to human DNA.' [5]

Is the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant's Contaminated Water Discharge truly scientifically sound?

Professor Perreng also expressed concerns about the lack of discussion regarding radionuclides with half-lives of over 30 years, such as cesium-137, strontium-90, and carbon-14. [6]

September 12, 2023

(Former Professor, College of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, specializing in Radiation Oncology, retired)

Cited Sources

BBC News Korea. (October 27, 2020). “Fukushima: Why Japan can't abandon the 'ocean discharge' option for contaminated water.” BBC News Korea: https://www.bbc.com/korean/news-54703434

Why Japan can't abandon the 'ocean discharge' option for contaminated water - BBC News Korea
Previously, the Japanese government considered three options.

www.bbc.com
BBC News Korea. (April 13, 2021). “Fukushima: Japan decides to discharge contaminated water from nuclear power plant... Why is it controversial?” BBC News Korea: https://www.bbc.com/korean/news-56672262

Why is nuclear contaminated water dangerous? - BBC News Korea
Environmental groups are concerned that various pollutants are not guaranteed to be safe even after undergoing treatment.

www.bbc.com
Kim, Kyung-jin. (August 28, 2023). “TEPCO's 'transparency' controversy… Looking at its past record.” KBS News: https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=7758459

TEPCO's 'transparency' controversy…Looking at its past record
[Anchor] As such, Japan is emphasizing the safety of the sea around the Fukushima nuclear power plant through various institutions that disclose figures…

news.kbs.co.kr
Dong-A Science. (January 15, 2021). “The never-ending controversy surrounding tritium at the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant.” Dong-A Science: https://m.dongascience.com/news.php?idx=43230

The never-ending controversy surrounding tritium at the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant
Rep. Kim Young-sik, Lee Cheol-kyu, and Kim Seok-gi of the People Power Party visited the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant, where the tritium controversy is ongoing, and held a press conference on the 15th urging a parliamentary investigation to ascertain the facts. Provided by Rep. Kim Young-sik's office.

m.dongascience.com
Shim, Si-bo. (April 6, 2011). “[Interesting Science] Why nuclear accidents don't explode like atomic bombs.” Maeil Kyungje: https://www.mk.co.kr/news/economy/4891877

[Interesting Science] Why nuclear accidents don't explode like atomic bombs - Maeil Kyungje
Both obtain energy from uranium nuclear fission…Depending on the number of neutrons contained, uranium is divided into various types and the uranium used as nuclear fuel has a slow fission rate, preventing explosions

www.mk.co.kr
Lee, Young-hee, and Yoon, Seol-young. (March 11, 2021). “Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan: ‘TEPCO concealed the explosion and is still covering up information.’ ” JoongAng Ilbo: https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/24009159#home

Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan: ‘TEPCO concealed the explosion and is still covering up information.’ | JoongAng Ilbo
On the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, former Prime Minister Kan (currently a member of the House of Representatives), whom we met at the House of Representatives building in Tokyo on the 4th, said, "TEPCO's information concealment continues to this day." Tsunami that swallowed husbands, pregnant wife...

www.joongang.co.kr
Lee, Hyun-sook. (July 2, 2019). “Three Lies of TEPCO, The Real-Life Story of Aesop's Fable: The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” Greenpeace: https://www.greenpeace.org/korea/report/5912/blog-ce-tokyo-electric-power-3-lies/

Three Lies of TEPCO, The Real-Life Story of Aesop's Fable: The Boy Who Cried Wolf - Greenpeace Korea | Greenpeace
850 tons of groundwater pours into the Fukushima nuclear power plant every day, and Japan is struggling to handle contaminated water. TEPCO has only sought temporary solutions and ultimately failed to address contaminated water treatment. Now, with 1 million tons of contaminated water...

www.greenpeace.org
Jeong, Jae-gyo. (March 4, 2021). “Characteristics of Radionuclide Generation and Release Observed in the Fukushima Nuclear Accident.” Radiation Medicine Webzine: https://www.rmwebzine.re.kr/newshome/mtnmain.php?mtnkey=articleview&mkey=scatelist&mkey2=78&aid=4937

Choi, Tae-yong, and Woo, Hye-rim. (April 7, 2023). “[Fact Check] Is the Fukushima Contaminated Water Discharge Internationally and Scientifically Sound?” Yonhap News: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20230406048900518

[Fact Check] Is the Fukushima Contaminated Water Discharge Internationally and Scientifically Sound? | Yonhap News
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Choi, Tae-yong and Woo, Hye-rim = Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the Japanese government has repeatedly...

www.yna.co.kr