Fukushima radioactive leak, December 2011

TEPCO cartoon

Fukushima plant leaks radioactive water

Radioactive water might have found its way into the Pacific ocean and experts believe it could contain strontium

Justin McCurry in Tokyo

Monday 5 December 2011 08.52 GMT

Large quantities of highly radioactive water have leaked through a crack in the wall of a treatment facility at the Fukushima power plant, and some may have founds its way into the sea, the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power [Tepco], said.

The firm said as much as 45 tonnes of water had leaked through the concrete wall of a building being used to purify contaminated water that is then used to cool molten fuel in the plant’s three damaged reactors.

The firm has piled up sandbags to prevent further leaks but fears some water may have already found its way into a gutter that connects to the Pacific ocean about 600 metres away.

Experts believe the water could contain high levels of strontium, a beta-emitting radioactive substance that, if ingested, can cause bone cancer.

Public broadcaster NHK reported that although caesium levels in the leaked water were low, it could contain up to 130,000 becquerels per cubic centimetre of strontium, which has a half-life of 29 years.

Radioactive water from Fukushima plant escapes — NHK World, July 16, 2015: here.

July 2015: Tepco finally admitted irregular sinking in Fukushima plant — Fukushima Diary: here.