The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.
Groundwater control
The IAEA notes the assessment of the Japanese Committee on Countermeasures for Contaminated Water Treatment relating to the contribution of land-side impermeable walls towards a significant reduction in the ingress of water.
Fuel removal from the spent fuel pools in Units 2 and 3
The IAEA notes the ongoing progress toward fuel removal from the spent fuel pools in Units 2 and 3. The IAEA also notes the commitment of Japan to safety as the first priority.
Off-site decontamination
The IAEA acknowledges the report by the Government of Japan on this matter. The IAEA also recognises the progress in the transportation of removed soil and waste to the Interim Storage Facility.
Sea area monitoring results
Based on the information provided by Japan, no significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period covered by this report. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages the continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the ongoing authorized discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
Sea area monitoring data quality assurance
The IAEA continues to assist the Government of Japan in ensuring that the regularly updated Sea Area Monitoring programme is comprehensive, credible and transparent. To test the sampling and analytical performance of the Japanese laboratories for the analysis of radionuclides in seawater, sediment and fisheries samples, the IAEA organised proficiency tests annually and interlaboratory comparison exercises biannually for seawater and annually for sediment and fisheries samples for the period 2014-2016. Beginning with 2017 all exercises are organised once every year. The reporting on the seventh interlaboratory comparison exercise and the fourth proficiency test are currently ongoing. Seawater, marine sediment and fish samples from coastal waters in the Fukushima Prefecture, which were jointly collected by IAEA and Japanese experts in October 2017, were analysed as part of this seventh interlaboratory comparison exercise. The eighth interlaboratory comparison exercise will be organised in the second half of 2018.
The IAEA considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to build confidence of the stakeholders in the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data[1].
Food products
Based on the information provided by the authorities of Japan, the situation with regard to the safety of food, fishery and agricultural production continues to remain stable. No significant changes were observed since the previous report. Monitoring foods, appropriate regulatory action and public communication are helping to maintain confidence in the safety of the food supply. Food restrictions continue to be revised and updated as necessary in line with the food monitoring results. This indicates the continued vigilance of the authorities in Japan and their commitment to protecting consumers and trade.
Based on the information that has been made available, the Joint FAO/IAEA Division understands that measures to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are appropriate, and that the food supply chain is controlled effectively by the relevant authorities.
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[1] A report on the on the first three years of the interlaboratory comparison exercise activities was published in July 2017.