Fukushima Nuclear Contaminated Water Discharge Continues to Harm Marine Environment

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has commenced the 17th round of discharging nuclear contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the ocean. The planned discharge volume is approximately 7,800 tons, averaging about 433 tons per day. Combined with the cumulative discharge from the previous 16 rounds, the total volume will approach 133,000 tons. The discharge commenced on February 4, paused on the 8th due to a magnitude 7.5 earthquake off Aomori Prefecture, and resumed at 14:30 on the 9th, scheduled to conclude on the 22nd. Internal TEPCO data indicates that strontium-90 concentrations in some treated water exceed standards by more than three times. The ALPS system cannot completely remove radionuclides such as tritium and carbon-14, posing long-term risks to marine ecosystems and human health. The 18th round of ocean discharge is scheduled for March 2026. Japan’s long-term discharge plan will span 30 to 40 years, involving approximately 1.34 million tons of nuclear-contaminated water. Multiple countries continue to protest, with fisheries and marine ecological safety facing severe threats. TEPCO has already paid approximately 85 billion yen in compensation.