Since the announcement that Tokyo would be host city to the 2020 Olympics, Fukushima has been making headlines. The Prime Minister has been accused of lying about nuclear safety, and a satirical French newspaper has been condemned for making Fukushima (and Japan) an object of ridiucle.
And now, TEPCO have announced that the water contamination values they have been reporting over the past two years were in fact incorrect, giving values that were lower than contamination levels actually were…
From NHK:
TEPCO: Concentration of Radioactive Cesium In Sea Water Announced As Lower Than They Were For Two Years
TEPCO has realized that over the span of almost two years the radioactive cesium concentration levels in the sea water close to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant had been measured using an incorrect method, and it is now known that TEPCO publicly announced levels as being lower than they actually were.
Due to contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor, and in order to observe the ocean’s pollution, the Nuclear Regulation Authority’s specialist team’s meeting was first held on September 13. It was at this meeting that it became obvious that radioactive cesium levels were higher than previously thought.
Indeed, TEPCO had been publicly announcing the concentration of radioactive Cesium-137 in one litre of seawater, which was measured from the sea water near the nuclear power plant’s south side’s waste water outlet, as being between 1 and 10 becquerels from May 2011, and for the two years following.
However, following the suggestion of staff from the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the levels were recalculated correctly, and it was discovered that the publicly announced value was several becquerels per litre lower than actual levels.
TEPCO explained “when measuring, the surrounding area’s radiation’s influence was mistakenly estimated, and the correct measurement was not taken”. They have said that since June this year there has been improvement in making public announcements.
Specialists attending the meeting gave constant criticism and opinions, saying “this was an elementary mistake” and “a regulation authority also should take measurements without leaving everything up to TEPCO”.
Comments from Twitter:
さえ子くま坂:
Not only concealment but lying is bad. Especially lying.
>雨水真水:
We knew! …But this is bullshit!
RYO SAKAMOTO:
This is the worst
kazumyagu:
This is so terrible that I can’t say anything… why, there is no accountability?
Jo2Rayden☆AntiE.U.G.:
You worked hard on that lie, didn’t you ((+_+))
すーさん:
This was probably done on purpose.
tsuruDeath(つるさん):
What is this! Now they know. This is so terrible. They’re criminals.
カキオ◆原発反対！核廃絶！！:
Basically how they made this mistake is not written. They didn’t overlook the background??
zoo-chee:
Terrible.
Kenjiro K.:
Wait a minute. Is this a situation where TEPCO, with a self satisfied look, are saying “we aren’t in control of this”? like it’s got nothing to do with them?
K:
This isn’t something I started now, but I can’t trust anything TEPCO says.
ayano:
Tell us what you’re sure is correct from now on…
snamiaru:
Why won’t they be arrested? Someone tell me
モルダー龍馬:
Really!? It’s not a higher amount?
おかママU’×’U☆:
This is really way too low of them→
jnuktest:
In the mass media as well, more than deliberately reporting a small difference in the number of Bqs, (in relation to Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant) couldn’t there be other things that they’re doing?
齋藤 拳太郎:
So this the control that Prime Minister Abe was talking about…
まえむき:
From TEPCO’s disposition it’s easy to suppose, but now that it’s been two and a half years, the people concerned are filled with dread about approving what they say. I wonder what will come next?
タケダケンジ:
Even though TEPCO has been saying since right after the accident to be reasonable, it’s because they’re leaving things to chance.
