Daily Current Affairs : 25-August-2023

Twelve years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan has embarked on a contentious decision to release the cooling water from the devastated power plant into the Pacific Ocean. This move has sparked debates about its environmental impact, safety measures, and alternatives.

Reasons for Ocean Release

The decision to release water into the Pacific Ocean arises from several factors:

  1. Storage Capacity Exhaustion: The storage tanks at the Fukushima facility are reaching their limit, necessitating a solution to manage the accumulated cooling water.
  2. Ongoing Cooling Necessity: The reactors at the nuclear power plant require a continuous inflow of cooling water due to their destruction in the catastrophic tsunami of 2011.
  3. High Water Requirement: Maintaining the necessary cooling levels demands a substantial 170 tons of water daily.
  4. Ingress of Rain and Groundwater: Rain and groundwater have been infiltrating the site, further contributing to the volume of water needing management.
  5. Safe Treatment Process: The cooling water undergoes filtration to ensure its safety before being discharged into the ocean. The treated water is then sent through a tunnel spanning about 0.62 miles before reaching the Pacific.
  6. Long-term Effort: The complete release process is projected to span approximately 30 years, highlighting the scale of this challenge.
Approval and Concerns

The decision to release the treated water into the ocean has gained approval from both Japan’s atomic agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Despite the endorsements, concerns persist:

  • Radiation Disclosure: Accusations have arisen that Japan downplayed the radiation levels in the cooling water, which has led to skepticism about the water’s true safety.
  • Environmental Impact: Worries about extensive ocean contamination and potential harm to marine ecosystems have triggered calls for cautious action.
  • Economic and Reputation Loss: The fishing industry’s revenue might be adversely affected, and Japan’s global reputation could suffer from the perceived environmental risk.
Water Treatment Process

Before the release, the cooling water and groundwater undergo treatment using the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS):

  • Radionuclide Filtration: ALPS effectively filters out 62 types of radionuclides, excluding tritium.
  • Tritium Reduction: Japan’s strategy involves dilution until tritium concentrations drop to around 1,500 Becquerel per liter, a fraction of national safety standards.
  • Iterative Filtration: If tritium levels remain high, the process will be repeated to ensure compliance with safety limits.
Understanding Tritium

Tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen, occurs naturally and emits weak beta particles:

  • Minimal Threat: Tritium poses significantly lower risks than cesium-137 or strontium-90, emitting particles easily stopped by skin or plastic.
  • Biological Insignificance: Tritium is swiftly eliminated from the body as it’s akin to water, lacking the bioaccumulation potential of other radioactive elements.
Alternatives Considered

Several alternatives have been considered to mitigate the ocean release:

  • Storage Tanks: Increasing storage capacity with additional tanks is one option, but the high earthquake risk in the region raises concerns about tank leakage and groundwater contamination.
  • Evaporation Method: Another approach involves heating and evaporating the tritium-contaminated water. However, this poses challenges due to controlling the released radioactive hydrogen, which could be carried by the wind over long distances.

Important Points:

Reasons for Releasing Cooling Water into the Pacific Ocean:

  • Storage tanks are full due to the continuous need for cooling water.
  • The nuclear reactors at Fukushima were destroyed by a tsunami in 2011, necessitating ongoing cooling.
  • It takes 170 tons of cooling water daily to maintain safe conditions.
  • Rain and groundwater infiltration have exacerbated the storage issue.
  • A 30-year process is planned to treat and release the water into the ocean.

Approval and Concerns:

  • The plan has been approved by Japan’s atomic agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
  • Concerns include accusations of Japan downplaying radiation levels, environmental impact, economic consequences, and harm to reputation.

Water Treatment Process:

  • The Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) filters out 62 types of radionuclides but not tritium.
  • Japan aims to dilute tritium concentrations to about 1,500 Becquerel per liter.
  • Iterative filtration may be necessary if tritium levels remain high.

Understanding Tritium:

  • Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen.
  • It emits weak beta particles easily stopped by skin or plastic.
  • It lacks the biological effects and bioaccumulation potential of other radioactive elements.

Alternatives Considered:

  • Increasing storage tank capacity is one option but comes with earthquake-related concerns.
  • Evaporating tritium-contaminated water is another alternative, with safety thresholds at 5 Bq per liter, but controlling released radioactive hydrogen is challenging.
Why In News

Twelve years after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, Japan is moving forward with a controversial decision to release the power plant’s cooling water into the ocean, sparking international concerns about its potential environmental impact. As the country grapples with this challenging choice, scientists and environmentalists worldwide are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need for rigorous safety measures and transparency throughout the process.

MCQs about Fukushima Cooling Water Release

  1. What is the primary reason for releasing cooling water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean?
    A. To reduce the risk of earthquakes in the region.
    B. To comply with international safety standards.
    C. To prevent the cooling tanks from overflowing.
    D. To eliminate all radioactive elements from the water.
    Correct Answer: C. To prevent the cooling tanks from overflowing.
    Explanation: The primary reason for releasing cooling water into the Pacific Ocean is to prevent the storage tanks from overflowing due to the continuous need for cooling water at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
  2. What is the role of the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) in the water treatment process?
    A. ALPS filters out all radioactive elements from the water.
    B. ALPS dilutes tritium to extremely low concentrations.
    C. ALPS evaporates the cooling water.
    D. ALPS monitors radiation levels in the cooling water.
    Correct Answer: B. ALPS dilutes tritium to extremely low concentrations.
    Explanation: ALPS is responsible for filtering out various radionuclides and diluting tritium to lower concentrations before the water is released. It does not remove all radioactive elements, and it does not evaporate the water.
  3. Why is tritium considered less dangerous compared to other radioactive elements?
    A. Tritium is naturally occurring.
    B. Tritium emits strong alpha particles.
    C. Tritium can be absorbed by the body.
    D. Tritium lacks the biological effects and bioaccumulation potential of other radioactive elements.
    Correct Answer: D. Tritium lacks the biological effects and bioaccumulation potential of other radioactive elements.
    Explanation: Tritium is considered less dangerous because it lacks the biological effects and bioaccumulation potential of other radioactive elements like cesium-137 or strontium-90. Tritium emits weak beta particles and does not accumulate in the body, making it less harmful.

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