Japan is calling the water it is releasing into the ocean “ALPS treated water” to differentiate it from the contaminated water held in tanks around the wrecked plant site.
ALPS stands for “Advanced Liquid Processing System”, a system aimed at removing most radioactive elements from the water except for tritium before it is released into the ocean as “treated” water.
“It’s deeply disappointing that he made such a remark. I’ve instructed Minister Nomura to issue an apology as well as retract what he said,” Kishida said on Thursday when asked for comment.
Because tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, is difficult to separate from water, the Fukushima wastewater is diluted until tritium levels fall below regulatory limits.
Japan’s fisheries agency said tests of fish from near the plant on Saturday found no detectable levels of tritium.
Source: Channel News Asia
