How safe is the release of Fukushima nuclear plant water?

More or Less: Behind the Stats

BBC

Business, Mathematics, Science, News Commentary, News

4.6 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 26 August 2023

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Water used to cool nuclear reactors at the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan is being released into the Pacific Ocean by Japanese authorities. The move has sparked protests and concerns about safety in the region and met with retaliation from near neighbour China. But how safe is the water that’s been released? Presenter Charlotte McDonald and reporter Calum Grewar investigate, with the help of Professor Jim Smith of the University of Portsmouth and Professor Gerry Thomas, formerly of Imperial College London and the Chernobyl Tissue Bank. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Reporter: Calum Grewar Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: James Beard Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown

Transcript

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0:00.0	That 56 seconds, it took me to swim that gold medal win.
0:05.0	I looked for that feeling for 30 years and I never found it.
0:12.0	A podcast about the people behind the medals.
0:15.0	On the podium from the BBC World Service.
0:18.0	Find it wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
0:26.0	Thank you for downloading the More or Less podcast.
0:29.0	We're your weekly guide to the numbers in the news and in life.
0:34.0	I'm Charlotte McDonald and this week we're talking about the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan.
0:41.0	Thousands of protesters expressing their opposition to what has been going on today in Japan.
0:48.0	More than a million tons of treated wastewater.
0:50.0	Leasing water that have been exposed to radiation into the Pacific Ocean.
0:56.0	The news that contaminated water from the plant is being released into the Pacific Ocean has made headlines worldwide.
1:03.0	And, as we've just heard, there's what seems like a big number in there.
1:08.0	Over 1 million tons.
1:10.0	But is it really a big number?
1:13.0	In typical More or Less style, our reporter Kalangruha has been investigating.
1:18.0	Thanks Charlotte, that's right.
1:20.0	On Tuesday, Japan began releasing water from the Fukushima daichi nuclear power station into the Pacific Ocean.
1:26.0	That might sound scary, but when you dive a little deeper, we're not so sure.
1:31.0	But first, let's remind ourselves how we ended up here.
1:35.0	Panic just after lunchtime.
1:38.0	The earthquake struck at 246 in the afternoon local time.
	...

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