Fukushima nuclear disaster and water release

Letters | Japan’s Fukushima waste water plan has its merits. Critics should not jump to conclusions

Among the available options, discharging treated radioactive water into the ocean seems the most reasonable, balancing the need to dispose of the water with health concerns

Japan’s decision should not be judged in haste, without considering the pros and cons

Reading Time:2 minutes

People rally in front of the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on April 13, protesting the Japanese government’s decision to release treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 1:00am, 24 Apr 2021Updated: 1:00am, 24 Apr 2021

I am writing about Japan’s plan for the contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, in response to the article “For the US, Japan is the friend who can do no wrong – even when it’s dumping radioactive waste water into the ocean” (April 16).

While Japan has been criticised locally and internationally for its decision to release treated nuclear waste water into the ocean, we should consider the facts of the case before raising objections.

As the storage tanks built to hold the radioactive water are nearly full, what to do next has become a critical issue. While some argue that the Japanese government should build more storage tanks and process the water over the long term, this is not advisable because Japan is located in an earthquake zone: around 1,500 earthquakes are recorded in the country every year. If the storage tanks collapse and the water is leaked due to earthquakes, this will cause major damage to the environment and human health.

Besides, the government has promised to treat the water according to globally accepted nuclear safety standards before discharging it. Most harmful and toxic radioactive substances will be filtered. What remains, such as tritium, is not likely to harm human beings and the environment. Also, the International Atomic Energy Agency will monitor the process.

This seems like the most reasonable way to balance the need to dispose of the waste water with environmental concerns and public health. There’s good reason not to be completely critical of Japan’s approach.

Wong Cheuk Lam, Yuen Long

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.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Japan’s Fukushima waste water plan has its merits. Critics should not jump to conclusions

Letters | Japan’s Fukushima waste water plan has its merits. Critics should not jump to conclusions