IAEA Monitors Fish Testing Near Fukushima Nuclear Plant

On Friday, scientists from the UN nuclear agency observed Japanese lab workers preparing fish samples collected near the Fukushima nuclear plant to test the safety of treated radioactive wastewater discharged into the sea.

On Friday, scientists from the United Nations nuclear agency observed Japanese lab workers preparing fish samples collected from a seafood market near the Fukushima nuclear plant. The purpose of the testing is to assess the safety of treated radioactive wastewater that has been released into the sea from the damaged plant.

Widespread Opposition to Wastewater Discharge

The discharge of wastewater began on August 24 and is expected to continue for decades. It has faced strong opposition from fishing groups and neighboring countries, including China and Russia, which have banned all imports of Japanese seafood. Despite these concerns, the Japanese government and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, maintain that the discharge is unavoidable as wastewater storage tanks at the plant will reach capacity next year.

IAEA's Involvement in Ensuring Transparency and Safety

In an effort to ensure transparency and the safety of the water discharge, a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is currently in Japan to inspect the collection and processing of seawater, sediment, and fish samples from the area of the plant. The samples prepared by the Marine Ecology Research Institute in the coastal town of Onjuku near Tokyo will be sent for testing to the IAEA and ten other research facilities in Japan, South Korea, China, and Canada.

Importance of Standardized Testing and Collaboration

Iolanda Osvath, head of the IAEA's Radiometrics Laboratory, emphasized the importance of laboratories using the same standards when comparing results. This collaboration allows them to rely on and trust each other's data. The IAEA has already reviewed TEPCO's wastewater release plan and concluded in July that if carried out as planned, it will have a negligible impact on the environment, marine life, and human health.

Fish Species Selected for Testing

The IAEA has selected six species of fish for testing: olive flounder, crimson sea bream, redwing searobin, Japanese jack mackerel, silver croaker, and vermiculated pufferfish. These species are known to have higher levels of radioactivity than others due to the areas they tend to move around in, according to Paul McGinnity, an IAEA marine radiology scientist.

Tritium and Cesium Measurements

During Friday's lab visit, technicians prepared samples for measuring tritium, which cannot be removed from the wastewater by the treatment equipment at the Fukushima plant. The government and TEPCO assert that tritium is safe for human consumption in small amounts. Other lab workers packed processed fish samples for measuring Cesium, which experts say is important to monitor as it tends to accumulate in fish muscles.

IAEA Task Force Review

The October 16-23 sampling work will be followed by a separate IAEA task force that will review the safety of the water discharge. The findings and conclusions of this task force will be crucial in determining the ongoing viability and potential long-term effects of the wastewater discharge.