“If people eat this kind of contaminated food, it will affect the health of millions and millions of people, for many, many years.” Observers say Japan’s discharging of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean may pose long-term threats to human health and the marine environment.

  • 🏳️‍⚧️ 新星 [they/she]
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    10 months ago

    Tritium has a half-life of only 12 years. In 80 years, 99% of it is gone.

    I would be more concerned that the filtration system wasn’t sufficient enough to remove more dangerous radioactive contaminants. I believe that’s what the countries around who are opposed or skeptical are concerned about.

    • Ronin_5
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      10 months ago

      Then they can store it for 80 years before releasing it

      • 🏳️‍⚧️ 新星 [they/she]
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        10 months ago

        12 years have already passed, so 50% is already gone.

        How much is enough? 1% of a large concentration is quite different than 50% of a small concentration. Shouldn’t we compare this in units of concentration instead of vaguely defined percentages?

        Also, why are we focusing on the tritium? Are you confident that everything else is filtered so we don’t have to worry about the rest?

        • Ronin_5
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          10 months ago

          If the radiation from the water is negligible compared to background radiation, then it should be safe for consumption, given that all toxic substances are removed.

          The fact that they didn’t provide the evidence showing the lack of radioactivity is indicative that they are releasing it prematurely. The fact that they mentioned a lack of space is indicative of a monetary reason.

          They ran out of funding to hold the toxic radioactive water, so they’re dumping it out into the ocean.

          • 🏳️‍⚧️ 新星 [they/she]
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            10 months ago

            The International Atomic Energy Agency says it’s within safe limits, but I do agree that monetary reasons seem to make this release questionable.

        • ComradeSalad
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          10 months ago

          What kind of logic is that.

          Your solution is that storing it for 80 years is bad because 1% is left, so let’s dump 100% right now???