The Fiji Times

‘Very less impact’

Water discharged in ocean safe, says Mizutani

- By WANSHIKA KUMAR

THE Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water that will be discharged into the Pacific Ocean will not harm anyone, says Embassy of Japan second secretary Masataka Mizutani.

He said all assessment­s would be conducted on the possible effects of the water before its discharge.

“Based on the radiation impact assessment to the public, the impact to the public will be less than 1/100,000 of natural radiation exposure in Japan,” he said.

“This is a very small or negotiable impact.”

He said after the Advanced Liquid Processing System treatment, they would be releasing 22 trillion Bq tritium per year.

“The areas in which tritium concentrat­ion exceeds the background level of 1Bq/L will be limited to within two kilometre from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear

power station.

“Even in the areas, the tritium concentrat­ion is far lower than the World Health Organisati­on drinking water guideline value.”

He said based on internatio­nal standards and practices, additional measures would also be taken to ensure the water was safe before discharge.

“The government will be doing environmen­tal monitoring before, during and after the discharge of the water into the Pacific Ocean.

“The government will strengthen and enhance monitoring before and after the discharge in cooperatio­n with the internatio­nal community.”

He said transparen­cy would be ensured in all monitoring projects.

He insisted it was treated water and not “contaminat­ed” or “radioactiv­e”.

“It is treated water and it won’t be harmful to anyone, not to the fishermen, people’s health or marine organisms.”

 ?? Picture: SUPPLIED ?? Women, Children and Poverty Alleviatio­n Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa (middle) with students and staff members of Navesau Adventist High School in Wainibuka, Tailevu last Friday.
Picture: SUPPLIED Women, Children and Poverty Alleviatio­n Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa (middle) with students and staff members of Navesau Adventist High School in Wainibuka, Tailevu last Friday.
 ?? Picture: KYODONEWS ?? This photo taken on April 13, 2021, from Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, shows the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Picture: KYODONEWS This photo taken on April 13, 2021, from Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, shows the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

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