IAEA Confirms Tritium Levels in Latest Batch of ALPS-Treated Water from Fukushima Well Below Safety Limits

The IAEA experts conducted an on-site analysis of the treated water and verified that the tritium concentration is far below the operational limit of 1,500 becquerels per liter.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that the tritium concentration in the eighth batch of diluted ALPS-treated water, which the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) began discharging today, is significantly below Japan’s operational limit. This confirmation follows independent analysis by IAEA experts stationed at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS).

The IAEA experts conducted an on-site analysis of the treated water and verified that the tritium concentration is far below the operational limit of 1,500 becquerels per liter. The levels were found to be in line with international safety standards, ensuring that the release poses no significant risk to people or the environment.

Japan’s plan to release the ALPS-treated water from FDNPS is ongoing and will continue over the coming decades. This current batch marks the eighth release since the process began in August last year. The IAEA has previously confirmed that the tritium concentrations in the first seven batches, totaling approximately 54,700 cubic meters of water, also remained well within safety limits.

A comprehensive safety review report issued by the IAEA on July 4, 2023, found that Japan’s approach to handling the treated water adhered to international safety standards and that the environmental and public health impact of the discharge would be negligible. Furthermore, a recent report from the IAEA Task Force, which reviews the safety of the water discharge plan, affirmed that the discharge continues to meet international safety standards.

All related reports on sampling, independent analysis, and data evaluation, along with the discharge timeline, are available on the IAEA website for public access.