Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. File photoVIENNA, Sep 12Russia calls on Tokyo to take a responsible approach to discharging water contaminated with radioactive isotopes from the accidental Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The Russian permanent mission reported that Moscow continues to closely monitor Tokyo's plans in this regard. responsibility and exercise it properly, informing and consulting in detail with neighboring states, other interested parties and relevant international organizations, primarily with the IAEA,» the Permanent Mission said, speaking at a session of the IAEA Board of Governors. Starting from the spring of 2023, Japan plans to implement discharge of water, purified from all radionuclides except for tritium, into the ocean at a distance of 1 km from the station. At the same time, as noted in the document, «each of the stages of work is subject to various factors, including weather conditions, so there is a possibility that this deadline will be shifted to the summer.» During the accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, at the first, the second and third reactors had a meltdown of nuclear fuel. The water that is used to cool the reactors and is contaminated with radioactive substances passes through a multi-stage ALPS system, which makes it possible to purify it from 62 types of radionuclides, with the exception of tritium. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, otherwise it is called «superheavy hydrogen» or 3H, which makes it difficult to clean water from it. Tritium exists in natural conditions, due to weak beta radiation its effect on humans is limited, at the same time it is dangerous if it enters the body. Water that has been purified from radionuclides with the exception of tritium is now stored in giant tanks at the station. Every day, about 140 tons of radioactive water are added to them. About 1,000 giant tanks have been installed at the station, but almost 90% of their 1.37 million tons have already been filled.In Japan, there was a leak of radioactive water at the Mihama nuclear power plant. The question of how to dispose of water has been considered since 2013. Among others, options were considered to mix it with cement and concrete underground, to separate hydrogen by electrolysis, and others. In the end, the government decided to start dumping water into the sea, after diluting it and bringing the concentration of tritium to 1,500 becquerels per liter, which is 40 times less than the norm adopted in Japan for draining water into the sea from the operation of operating nuclear power plants — 60 thousand becquerels. According to the Ministry of Industry of Japan, 1.25 million tons of water accumulated at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant contains 860 trillion becquerels of tritium. Prior to the accident, the station annually discharged water containing 2.2 trillion tritium into the sea. Earlier this year, the IAEA commission, after visiting the station, where the largest accident after Chernobyl occurred in March 2011, gave a preliminary positive assessment of Japan's preparations for the release of water, which should take place next spring. In July, the plan was approved by the Japanese Atomic Energy Regulatory Committee.
