We have just come off the anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, Japan, that damaged a nuclear power plant 11 years ago. The company TEPCO announced that it plans to discharge radiated water, which will have undergone some treatment, into the ocean starting next year. Some Pacific Rim countries are concerned about whether that can be done safely.
A scientific team from across the Pacific, including from the University of Hawaiʻi, has just issued a review of Japan‘s plan based on what's available publicly. The Pacific Islands Forum is made up of 18 independent Pacific Island countries to provide input on the planned release.
The scientists are asking the International Atomic Energy Agency for additional info, but it provided its technical review to the forum just this week. The Conversation talked to Robert Richmond, director of the UH Kewalo Marine Laboratory, who is part of that team.
This interview aired on The Conversation on March 15, 2022. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
