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Anastasia Balezdrova

The statement of the Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s advisor made it clear that the Japan's nuclear nightmare could continue months. Although the specialists managed to prevent the possibility of nuclear explosion, 60,000 tons of radioactive water was collected at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, which do not allow the specialists to renew the activities on the elimination of leakage and to cool the overheated three energy blocks. Therefore, 11,500 tons of water with low radiation is flown into the ocean. To comment on the consequences of that decision GRReporter contacted Nikolaos Katsaros - research associate at the National Center for Scientific Research "Democritus" in Athens.

What is the composition of the radiation water from the plant in Fukushima?

The radiation water contains mainly radioactive iodine. When it enters the human body it is laid in the thyroid and can cause various diseases and cancer.
 
The radioactive iodine remains in the water for about eight days, but it also contains radioactive cesium 137, which emits radiation for a very long period of time. So, radiation cesium is taken if someone drinks contaminated water. It lays primarily in the bones and the muscles and will emit radiation 30 years at least. Cesium causes cancer and teratogenicity.
 
Why this water had to be flown into the ocean?

To prevent the reactor from exploding they had to cool it inside. But switching off the reactor does not mean that it is not emitting radiation. The temperature and pressure were rising and the risk of explosion was following. The rector was continuously cooled with sea water to prevent it from overheating.

They managed to avoid the melting of the reactor at least so far but contaminated 11,000 tons of seawater with radiation, and it is not clear how long this will continue.

Is it possible to purify the water and when?

The water was initially stored in tanks and was then poured into the ocean in order to limit the pollution with radioactive iodine, because its impact is reduced by half after eight days. However, there remains the cesium. Moreover, contamination of the tanks and the water used continues.

The ecosystems will undoubtedly be affected. The radiation will affect the shellfish aquatic animals, fish and algae for a long period of time as the area outside the 30 km zone around the nuclear plant was contaminated too. It affected dairy and meat, and many agricultural products such as parsley, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and others. Unfortunately, the radiation will continue much longer than was announced today. I really doubt that the residents who were evacuated to the area ​​20 km away from Fukushima will be able to go back at least the next two years.
 
Can the radiation water reach our shores?

No, there is no possibility of marine environment transfer. As for the food, each member country checks the products and fodder imported from Japan following the decision of the European Union. The controlling system in Greece is very efficient. I would recommend the people who do not trust the food control to consume local products. Our country offers a very wide variety of agricultural and stock-raising products and seafood and it is better to prefer them than the products imported from Japan. Furthermore, the annual food imports from the Asian country are very small in quantity - about 160 tons.

What is your attitude towards the use of nuclear energy?
 
I oppose the nuclear energy explicitly and strongly, because as we know from Chernobyl and as we see now in Fukushima, the consequences for a large part of the planet and for millions of people are very serious where a nuclear accident happens.
 
I am particularly concerned with the operation of the nuclear reactors in Kozloduy. They are located in a highly seismic region and in a country with limited nuclear knowledge, where the nuclear waste is not handled in the safest manner. Nobody can rule out the possibility of human error and the causing of nuclear explosion that would affect the entire Balkan Peninsula and the millions of people living in the countries around.

What is the base of your opinion concerning the plant in Kozloduy?

I visited the plant three times as an expert shortly after the fall of communism in the country. Until then, the reactors were operated by Soviet nuclear experts who returned in their country after the changes. However, they did not train their Bulgarian colleagues on nuclear waste as was required. Until then, the waste was dispatched to Russia which used it to produce plutonium. When Russia withdrew, however, the nuclear waste remained in the NPP and attempts were made to sign a treaty with France. As far as I know their exports to Russia were renewed, but the disposal of radioactive waste remains a serious problem globally.