Safe tritium levels confirmed in Fukushima waters despite the spill

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published the results of its first analysis of radioactive isotopes in the area of ​​the Pacific Ocean where treated water from Fukushima and confirmed safe levels of tritium.

What represents the first independent sampling and analysis of waters in the area indicates that “the levels of tritium “They are below Japan’s operational limit,” the entity said in a statement.

The samples were collected by members of the branch that the IAEA has been installed near the damaged Japanese nuclear power plant at different points within a three-kilometer radius of the discharge site, both at sea and on the coast, the report details.

The measurements of the IAEA “They show consistency with the values ​​reported by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) – operator of the atomic plant – as well as with those of the Ministry of Economy of Japan,” the agency added.

TEPCO publishes daily the results of its tritium concentration analysis, the only radioactive isotope that cannot be eliminated with current radioactive water cleaning systems, which remain below the country’s legal limits, in line with the guidelines of international security.

He IAEA He reiterated that as long as the values ​​are within these margins, the human and environmental impact of the spill will be zero.

The entity has been collecting marine samples from the waters around Fukushima In the last decade, after the Japanese government He was asked to do so to help in the monitoring of the sea after the 2011 atomic accident, and considers that the steps taken by Japan are appropriate.

The Japanese government alleges that the spill is a necessary part of the plant’s decommissioning efforts.

Millions of tons of contaminated water have been generated at the facilities since the accident, either from cooling work on the damaged reactors and melted fuel or from rainwater leaks into them over the years.

This water is treated through a complex filtering system that eliminates most of the harmful radioactive elements, except tritium, before being stored in tanks for disposal.

The plant is running out of tanks or physical space to install them, so it has been decided to dump the treated water into the sea, a process that will last at least 30 years.

He Treated water is diluted to reduce tritium levels present at less than a quarter of the concentration allowed according to national safety standards and within the international standards considered by the IAEAa common practice in normal operations of nuclear power plants around the world.

(With information from EFE)