Environment Japan to release treated Fukushima water into the sea

[Majestic]

With a half-life of 12 years, half of the tritium from the original meltdowns is already gone.
That article says it will take 3 decades to release all of the water, by which time most of the remaining tritium will have already decayed. It's not a good look for China to be freaking out over this. They are in the strange position of wanting to lead the world in technology and science, but they have to play stupid in order to gin up domestic hysteria over this wastewater issue. The potential harm from this wastewater has to be several magnitudes less than the potential harm from the hundreds of new coal-burning power plants being built in China.

 

[thomas]

China has delayed its payments to the IAEA to put pressure on Japan:

Some Western diplomatic sources in Vienna, home to the IAEA, see the move as an attempt by China to apply pressure to oppose Japan's release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which the IAEA approved in July. The IAEA, a United Nations organization responsible for preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, is funded by euro and U.S. dollar contributions from member countries. According to a Sept. 22 IAEA report, China, which has the second-largest yearly contribution after the U.S. at about $65 million, had withheld payment of the entire amount. Japan, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, the U.K., Australia, India, South Korea, Russia and other major countries had paid their contributions in full by that day. Of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China was the only nation that had not paid anything. China has since contributed about half the amount, according to sources at the IAEA.

However, it's not only China resorting to financial blackmail:

There is deep-rooted skepticism in the U.S. about granting money to international organizations, and it has tried to pressure organizations in the past by delaying payments. As of Sept. 22, the U.S. had paid only about one-quarter of the roughly $113 million it owes the IAEA. Up to now, China has strongly criticized the U.S. for not paying its share at the United Nations and other forums. However, as it is now a major contributor, Beijing may be following Washington's example in trying to use withheld payments as leverage.

Paywall alert:

China delays payments to IAEA amid Fukushima water release

Beijing may be withholding 2nd-largest contribution share to apply pressure

asia.nikkei.com

 

[salyavin]

Fukushima: China accused of hypocrisy over its own release of wastewater from nuclear plants

Plant in China releases water with higher amounts of tritium, scientist says, calling into question seafood ban imposed on Japan

www.theguardian.com

Why Is China Suddenly Concerned About Nuclear Wastewater?

It may be more about politics than science.

time.com

 

[thomas]

On Wednesday, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant initiated its fourth release of treated radioactive water into the sea. This discharge marks the final one for the fiscal year ending in March. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. will release approximately 7,800 tons of treated water over about 17 days. The decision to proceed with this release was made after confirming that the radioactivity level of the latest batch of water adheres to the standards set by both the government and the utility.

No abnormal tritium levels have been detected in nearby waters from the previous three discharges, according to TEPCO. From this round on, the operator will forgo the step of temporarily storing the treated water in a large tank to check the tritium level before release. It will check the level as the water flows through pipes, as it did in the past three rounds. [...] The processed water has been diluted with seawater to one-40th of the concentration permitted under Japanese safety standards before being released via an underwater tunnel 1 kilometer off the power plant. Nuclear power plants worldwide routinely release treated water containing low concentrations of tritium, considered less harmful than other radioactive materials, and other radionuclides into the environment as part of normal operations, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

4th release of Fukushima treated radioactive water begins - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Wednesday started a fourth release of treated radioactive water

mainichi.jp

 

[thomas]

There you go.

Today, the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) announced that seawater samples collected near Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by Chinese scientists under international supervision have shown no negative impact on marine species. These samples, the first collected by Chinese scientists since the release of treated radioactive water from the stricken reactor began in late August, were taken from the vicinity of the ocean discharge outlet in mid-October. This finding significantly increases the possibility that China may eventually lift its current ban on imports of Japanese seafood, which was implemented in response to the water release.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China would continue to conduct independent sampling and testing to improve international oversight of the discharge, signalling that more testing was needed before the seafood ban could be lifted. "One single test does not say everything," she said, citing experts' comments. "The first independent sampling is just one of the steps for Japan to implement its commitments," Mao said. "The resumption of aquatic product imports depends on a series of scientific data, including our follow-up independent sampling and monitoring, and whether Japan will take measures to guarantee the safety and quality of its aquatic products to China."

Chinese tests on water near Fukushima plant show no impact on marine life

Analysis of samples collected after controversial radioactive discharges fuels hopes that Beijing could ease ban on Japanese seafood.

www.scmp.com