A nonprofit organization called Mothers' Radiation Lab Fukushima - Tarachine is measuring radioactivity in fish and seawater in Fukushima Prefecture as the Japanese government plans to release treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. The group, consisting of 13 members, many of whom are mothers with no scientific experience, is concerned about the potential impact on the environment and children's health. They have been learning monitoring techniques from experts and aim to gather data to understand the effects of the release. The group was founded in 2011 to measure radioactive contamination in vegetables, rice, and soil. Their measurements led to decontamination work in the city parks. The group operates on a budget mostly covered by donations. One member of the group, Noriko Tanaka, a former pastry chef, has learned measurement techniques by visiting analytical laboratories and asking questions to specialists. The group's goal is to provide data to mothers so they can make informed decisions about raising their children. Since 2015, the group has been obtaining samples from the sea off the Fukushima Daiichi plant and has found no tritium. The International Atomic Energy Agency has stated that the equipment used by the plant to release the treated water is safe and consistent with international nuclear safety standards. The government still plans to release the water this summer. Tarachine has received interview requests from foreign media regarding the scheduled release, particularly from South Korea and China. The group will continue to double-check measurement results from the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company.
Mon, 24 Jul 2023 04:29:07 GMT | Kyodo News Plus