Russia's National Research Institute Reports 'No Concerns' in Treated Water in an Independent Survey

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ロシアの国立研究機関が独自調査で処理水「懸念なし」報告書

2024年9月5日 21時05分

ロシアの国立研究機関は、東京電力福島第一原発にたまる処理水の海への放出を受けて日本周辺の海水を調査した結果、海水に含まれる放射性物質の量は基準値を大幅に下回っていたとする報告書を公表しました。

日本側は「独自の調査で安全を確認する動きが出てきたことを歓迎したい」として、引き続きロシア側に対し日本産水産物の輸入規制の撤廃を求めていく方針です。

福島第一原発にたまるトリチウムなどの放射性物質を含む処理水の海への放出を受けて、ロシアは、去年10月から日本産の水産物の輸入を規制しています。

こうした中、ロシア極東のウラジオストクにあるロシア科学アカデミー極東支部太平洋海洋学研究所は、周辺の太平洋、オホーツク海、それに日本海で、処理水の放出が始まる前のおととしから独自に行ってきた海水の調査結果を8月30日、公表しました。

それによりますと、含まれるトリチウムは平均で1リットルあたりおよそ0.12ベクレルで、ロシアの安全基準の7700ベクレルを大幅に下回り、「懸念すべきレベルではない」としています。

日本周辺の海の魚介類についても「何の疑いもなく食べられる。心配する根拠は、いまのところない」と指摘しています。

在ロシア日本大使館は、NHKの取材に対し、報告書の内容を確認したとしたうえで、「これまでロシア側に科学的なデータを提供してきたが、独自の調査によって安全を確認する動きが出てきたことを歓迎したい」として、引き続きロシア側に対し日本産水産物の輸入規制の撤廃を求めていく方針を示しました。

Translation

A Russian national research institute had published a report stating that the amount of radioactive material in seawater around Japan was significantly below the standard value after investigating the seawater following the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea.

Japan said it "welcomes the move to confirm safety through independent investigations" and planned to continue to ask Russia to lift the import restrictions on Japanese seafood.

In response to the release of treated water containing radioactive materials such as tritium from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, Russia had restricted the import of Japanese seafood since October last year.

Against this backdrop, on August 30th, the Pacific Oceanographic Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Vladivostok, Russian Far East, published the results of its own investigation of seawater in the surrounding Pacific Ocean, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and the Sea of ​​Japan that it had been conducting since last year, before the release of treated water began.

According to the report, the average level of tritium was about 0.12 becquerels per liter, well below the Russian safety standard of 7,700 becquerels, and said that it was "not at a level of concern."

The report also stated that seafood from the seas around Japan "can be eaten without any doubt. There is currently no reason to be concerned."

In response to an NHK interview, the Japanese Embassy in Russia said it had confirmed the contents of the report, and stated that "We have all along provided Russia with scientific data, but we welcome the move to confirm safety through independent investigations," and indicated that it would continue to urge Russia to lift its import restrictions on Japanese seafood products.

So, a Russian institute has published a report stating that the amount of radioactive material in seawater around Japan was significantly below the standard value following the release of treated water by Japan. Japan has indicated that it would continue to urge Russia to lift its import restrictions on Japanese seafood products based on scientific evidence. I think Japan is also urging China to do the same thing.