Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Popular Resistance Committees: We call on all international institutions to take urgent action and uphold their responsibilities by restoring and immediately enforcing effective mechanisms for the distribution of humanitarian aid.
The Popular Resistance Committees: The latest Zio-American crime against Gaza’s starving civilians constitutes a war crime, for which the US administration bears full and direct responsibility.
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops sonic grenade in town of Ramiyah.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in town of Beit Lif.
The Government Media Office in Gaza: The occupation’s latest crime is further evidence of its ongoing implementation of genocide through starvation.

Russian scientists find elevated Tritium level after Fukushima release

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 26 Aug 2024 18:30
  • 11 Shares
3 Min Read

In response to the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Russian scientists launched an expedition conducted aboard the "Professor Gagarinsky" research vessel.

Listen
  • x
  • (AP)
    The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, damaged by a massive March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami, is seen from the nearby Ukedo fishing port in Namie town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 (AP) 

Scientists in Russia's Primorsky Krai region have detected increased levels of tritium in seawater following the release of treated radioactive water from Japan's decommissioned Fukushima nuclear power plant. This finding was reported by the Pacific Oceanological Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS) on Monday.

"Laboratory analyses of the first water samples from the 'Akademik Oparin' expedition revealed elevated tritium levels in the main branch of the Kuroshio Current, as expected based on regional current patterns, as well as increased tritium levels near the Southern Kuril Islands," the institute's statement said.

The operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, TEPCO, began releasing treated water used to cool damaged reactors into the ocean in August 2023.

The treatment process, known as the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), removes 62 types of radionuclides but does not eliminate tritium.

Read more: Fukushima under focus as tons of dead fish wash up on Japan's shores

In response to these releases, the V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS) launched a new research expedition on August 24, 2024.

The expedition, conducted aboard the "Professor Gagarinsky" research vessel, departed from Vladivostok to study the effects of the contaminated water on marine environments.

Related News

Fukushima begins operation to remove radioactive debris

Japan says no tritium found in fish following Fukushima water release

This research will particularly focus on the Kuril Islands and the southern Sea of Okhotsk, which are vital fishing areas for Russia.

Additionally, the team will investigate the water exchange between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, along with other environmental impacts stemming from the Fukushima water release.

Sparking a wave of panic

After TEPCO began discharging the water into the Pacific Ocean, several countries, including China, reacted strongly.

China immediately banned all imports of Japanese seafood, citing concerns over contamination and safety, which significantly impacted Japan's seafood exports, especially scallops from Hokkaido.

Civic organizations and residents in countries like South Korea also voiced their disapproval, with protests and calls for Japan to halt the water release due to environmental and health concerns. 

Japan has defended the safety of the discharge, with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has stated that the treated water meets international safety standards and poses negligible risks to the environment and human health.

However, despite these assurances, fears and political tensions remain high in the region, particularly among fishing communities and governments worried about the long-term impacts on marine life and local economies.

Read more: 25-tonne radioactive water leak in Japan's Fukushima-1 confirmed

  • TEPCO
  • Japan
  • Fukushima Water Release
  • Tritium
  • Russia
  • Radioactive waste
  • Pacific Ocean

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS