The decommissioning process of the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is ongoing, with fuel debris being kept stable by continuous cooling water injection.
However, the site has accumulated about 350 million gallons of contaminated water, which is now being released into the Pacific Ocean.
This controversial move, expected to take around 40 years, began on August 24, 2023. The water has been treated to remove most radioactive isotopes, leaving only tritium, a hard-to-separate radioactive isotope of hydrogen.
Despite assurances from Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the water is safe, environmental activists argue that all possible impacts have not been studied. The release has sparked international criticism, with China imposing an immediate blanket ban on all aquatic products from Japan.
The impact of this decision on marine life and human health remains a contentious issue.
www.indiatoday.in
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