Japan began its fourth discharge of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, sparking renewed debates about environmental safety. 🚨 TEPCO, the plant's operator, says this release will send 7,800 tonnes of water through an advanced filtration system over 17 days – but critics worldwide remain unconvinced.
🔍 Why It's Controversial: The water, used to cool melted reactors after the 2011 disaster, contains traces of tritium that TEPCO claims are diluted to 'safe' levels. However, local fishers and neighboring countries worry about long-term impacts on marine life and food security. 🐟🌏
📢 Global Reactions: While Japan and the IAEA assert the process meets international standards, climate activists argue more studies are needed. 'This isn’t just Japan’s issue – ocean currents don’t respect borders,' tweeted one Pacific environmental coalition.
⚡ What's Next: This release is part of a 30-year decommissioning plan. As tech improves, will solutions like underground storage gain traction? Stay tuned as scientists monitor radiation levels in real-time.
