image from BBC News
Following the initial discharge of nuclear wastewater, the Chinese government responded by banning all imports of Japanese seafood, citing concerns about potential health risks. However, on September 15, photos emerged showing Chinese fishing boats operating off the coast of Japan. This has set the stage for a broader international debate.
Japan is currently preparing to release a second batch of nuclear wastewater in the second week of October. While British experts and Japanese scientists argue that there is no need for alarm, emphasizing that the levels of radiation energy released fall well within international safety standards, the issue remains contentious.
image from CGNT
On a global scale, the volume of nuclear wastewater released is indeed minuscule, akin to a drop of water in the vast expanse of the ocean. Scientist Mark Foreman contends that the radiation from this wastewater doesn't even approach the levels of a routine dental X-ray. However, it is essential to recognize that Japan's water treatment processes do not entirely eliminate radioactivity from the water. A critical distinction exists between water from the nuclear industry, which remains uncontaminated, and nuclear wastewater, which comes into direct contact with radioactive substances. Additionally, the claim that nuclear wastewater can be adequately diluted with seawater is still a matter of dispute, as independent verification remains elusive.
What raises further concern is the suggestion by a South Korean atomic energy expert that the reported findings may have been adjusted. Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency, lacking the means to ascertain the implications, has shifted the responsibility of being accurate and honest onto the Japanese government.
Recent reports also highlight troubling findings, such as the capture of a grouper within a hundred kilometers of the nuclear wastewater release site, with its body containing five times the permissible levels of cesium. Moreover, strontium 90, a radioactive element, cannot be metabolized by aquatic organisms, leading to its accumulation in the food chain. Over time, even seemingly insignificant amounts of radiation can aggregate and propagate through the biosphere, ultimately affecting humans at the apex of the food chain.
In contrast, Japan maintains that the bio-enrichment and long-term accumulation of nuclides will not pose a threat to human health or the environment. As the international debate continues, it remains a topic of great significance, necessitating further scientific research and diplomatic cooperation to address the concerns raised by various stakeholders.
Written by Isabella Yu and Chloe Chen
Edited by Feiran Huang
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