The power company released the results of an assessment that estimated the possible impact on humans, animals and plants, along with various simulations, of the discharge spreading in the sea close the plant, where the water will be released in 2023.
"According to the assessment's results, we believe that the impact on humans and the environment would be minimal," a
In April the Japanese government had approved the release of the contaminated water from the accident-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant, once it is treated through the advance liquid processing system.
"The annual amount of tritium discharged (to the sea) will be less than 22 TBq (terabecquerel), the discharge management target for the
According to the study, the water diluted through the ALPS system would be discharged deep inside the sea around 1 kilometer away from the coast and it estimated that the area with "higher tritium concentrations than the current surrounding area (...) will be limited to the area 2 to 3 kms from the station."
As per the simulations, the biggest concentration of the radioactive element would be in some areas directly above the tunnel exit, but
At present the contaminated water remains stored in over 1,000 tanks around the power station, having been used to cool the nucleus of the damaged reactors.
The water is treated through a process that removes most of the dangerous radioactive elements except tritium, an isotope which is dangerous in high concentrations.
Japanese authorities have repeatedly insisted that the discharge would not trigger risks and that this is a normal practice in the nuclear industry.
A government source told EFE that the solution had been reached after a long research by experts and continuing to store the water tanks was a hazard.
As per local media reports, around 70 percent of local communities in the Fukushima prefecture have opposed the release of contaminated water, along with fishing companies and fishermen's guilds in the area.
Similarly, experts of
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