Is it true that Japan discharges wastewater?

It is true that Japan discharges nuclear sewage.

At noon on August 24th, 2023 12, Japan launched the Fukushima nuclear sewage discharge plan. The Japanese Prime Minister also said that the sewage from the Fukushima nuclear power plant will be treated in batches, and it will take 30 years before and after to completely discharge the nuclear sewage currently stored in Japan. The discharge of radioactive waste has always been a topic that can arouse people's panic, but the discharge of nuclear polluted water in Fukushima, Japan has aroused people's fear reaction in South Korea, Japan and nearby areas.

However, the Japanese side turned a deaf ear to the appeal of the international community, deliberately created the illusion that the nuclear polluted water was safe and harmless, and even made unreasonable accusations against neighboring countries that expressed legitimate concerns. Japan's practice of discharging nuclear sewage this time has been strongly condemned by the international community and even the Japanese people.

The difference between nuclear waste water and nuclear sewage;

1, different sources

Nuclear sewage mainly comes from the operation of nuclear power plants. During the nuclear reaction, some radionuclides will be produced. With the recycling of cooling water, these radionuclides will accumulate in the cooling water, and then the cooling water will become nuclear sewage. In addition, a certain amount of nuclear sewage will be produced during the operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities.

Nuclear wastewater mainly comes from the operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities (such as nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel processing plants), as well as practical activities such as nuclear medicine and radioisotope production. These activities will produce waste water containing radioactive substances, which is nuclear waste water.

2. Different contents of radioactive substances

The nuclear sewage contains highly radioactive substances, such as short-lived radionuclides cesium-137, iodine-13 1, and long-lived radionuclides strontium -90 and americium-140. However, nuclear waste water contains relatively few radioactive substances, generally only some short-lived radionuclides.

3. Different treatment methods

Because nuclear sewage contains highly radioactive substances, its treatment and disposal methods are different from ordinary wastewater. Usually, nuclear sewage needs to be treated and purified many times, including physical, chemical and biological treatment to remove radioactive substances. Generally speaking, the treated nuclear sewage will be stored in a geological repository deep underground and buried hundreds of meters below the surface.

The treatment and management of nuclear wastewater is relatively simple. Physical, chemical and physicochemical methods are usually used for purification to remove radioactive substances. The treated nuclear waste water can be stored in ground storage facilities or shallow underground storage facilities tens of meters below the surface. In the process of storage, it needs to be monitored and managed regularly.