No hazardous products were identified in Russia after the release of water from the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, but Rospotrebnadzor has strengthened and will continue to strengthen control, the head of the department, Anna Popova, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
“We, for our part, have strengthened control and will continue to strengthen it. The laboratory in Vladivostok is currently being upgraded in order to carry out all research on site, without sending it to Moscow. Although parallel control is necessary for the purity of research,” she said.
According to her, where possible, products, water and bottom sediments are monitored. Popova also noted that Russia practically does not receive Japanese products, but fishermen catch fish and seafood in Russian territorial waters. No hazardous products were identified. “No changes have yet been detected in the content of radioactive substances in water, including tritium, but, unfortunately, there is an accumulation effect,” noted the head of Rospotrebnadzor. According to her, the process has just begun and accumulation may still occur.
Japan began releasing water purified from radioactive particles from the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant on August 24. On the same day, Chinese customs authorities banned the import of all seafood from Japan, vowing to adjust regulatory measures “as necessary.” As the media reported, the operator of Fukushima-1, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), after this statement promised to compensate Japanese manufacturers for the damage suffered as a result of the export ban by the “foreign government.”
On September 8, the AP reported that fishermen and residents of Fukushima, as well as five other prefectures along Japan’s northeast coast, had gone to court to demand the release of water be stopped. In total, 151 plaintiffs are listed in court documents, the majority are residents of Fukushima. All of them claim that the release of water purified from radiation damages fishing and violates the right of residents to live peacefully.