MANY tourists in Japan expressed strong dissatisfaction after Japan started discharging the second batch of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Nuclear Powerplant.
Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company or TEPCO started the second phase of wastewater discharge on Thursday morning, which earned disappointment and dissatisfaction among tourists currently in Tokyo.
Some 7,800 tons of polluted water will be dumped into the Pacific Ocean over a 17-day period of the second batch of the nuclear-contaminated water discharge.
Currently, international tourists visiting Tokyo are questioning such a treatment method and expressing concerns over its potential environmental risks.
“That is not a good idea I think. So, maybe if we have other solutions, it would be better,” according to one of the tourist from Norway.
Some tourists became more cautious about consuming seafood there, knowing Japan has already been releasing treated contaminated wastewater for months since late August.
“I love seafood. Japanese Sashimi, Sushi … It’s everywhere. Seafood is a staple within the culture of Japan. So, for those visiting, especially if you don’t know about that information about all these wastes being dumped into the water, and you’re coming and consuming all these foods, say you just love seafood, and you’re consuming sea food day after day, day in and day out, of course you are going to get sick,” tourist from United States said.
A tourist from China believes that the environmental effects last longer than they think and will eventually damage the health of future generations.
“Last time we came here, we ate a lot of Sushi and fish. I liked it very much. But this time, with child, I think maybe not,” a father from China said.
The initial discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water began on August 25 and the whole release will continue for at least 30 years.
The TEPCO plans to discharge more than 31,000 tons of diluted toxic water in four rounds by the end of March 2024.
Many tourists are now cautious of eating seafood since the start of the release of the treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean.
