FAQ

Only certain areas have somewhat high radiation dose rates, and those rates are decreasing year-on-year.

Ambient dose rates are measured at 4,383 locations throughout Japan, and 3,626 of those locations are within Fukushima Prefecture. Readings are published on a government agency website in real-time, and updated every 10 minutes.

People are able to live as normal in 97.6% of Fukushima Prefecture, and around 1.82 million people live in the prefecture today.

Entry restrictions are in place for some areas. However, there are far fewer such areas than immediately after the disaster.

People are able to live as normal in most parts of Fukushima Prefecture. Difficult-to-Return Zones, where entry is restricted, account for only 2.4% of the total area of the prefecture.

The IAEA has conducted reviews and found the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station to be stable. WHO and UNSCEAR have made assessments on the impact of the accident, concluding that radiation-induced health effects are unlikely to be discernible.

Decontamination work has been scheduled for some areas, and has been completed in all but the Difficult-to-Return Zones.

Dose levels in the main cities of Fukushima Prefecture are no different than in Tokyo or other major cities around the world.

Certain areas have somewhat high dose levels and have entry restrictions in place.

Radiation exposure has not been found to have caused any adverse health effects, and it is deemed unlikely to cause any in the future considering the exposure levels following the accident.

Considering the exposure levels following the accident, there is unlikely to be an increase in the incidence of cancer.

Recovery initiatives are well underway including in the municipalities around the nuclear power station. Current projects include the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework initiative.

More and more people from within Japan and abroad are visiting Fukushima as recovery work continues.

Fukushima has many popular areas and attractions, and the prefecture's main draws include its rich history, natural beauty, soothing hot springs, and delicious foods.

Japan's food safety standards are among the most rigorous in the world and apply to food products throughout the country, including Fukushima. Japanese food products undergo inspections before being distributed on the market, and those that pass inspections are deemed safe.

Inspections are appropriately implemented based on national guidelines, which have been vetted and well-received by international agencies.

Yes. It is safe and suitable for drinking.

In recent years hardly any food products have been found to exceed Japan's upper limit values for radionuclides in food, which are the most stringent in the world.

There are major differences between the two accidents. The atmospheric release of radioactivity from the Fukushima Daiichi accident was lower, and exposure has not been found to have had any health effects.

Fuel debris remains at the power plant, but cooling water is being continuously injected into the reactors and keeping the debris stable.

Yes, the International Atomic Energy Agency has conducted four reviews.

Decommissioning work is likely to take around 30–40 years.

ALPS-treated water is contaminated water that has been treated to reduce radionuclides to below regulatory levels. Contaminated water contains radioactive materials, and it becomes contaminated after coming into contact with fuel debris in the reactor building. This water is treated using advanced liquid processing systems to reduce all radionuclides, except for tritium, to below regulatory levels.

Discharging the ALPS-treated water is necessary in order to free up space at the site to continue decommissioning work safely and without delay. Space at the site is limited and needs to be fully utilized. This includes the ground on which the storage tanks are built.

It has been technologically possible to discharge the water safely, but the decision to store the water onsite was made in order to fully consider the potential social repercussions and reputational damage that may occur as a result of all future possibilities.

Around 70% of the water stored in the tanks contains radioactive materials other than tritium, at concentrations in excess of regulatory levels. Before being discharged, this water will be retreated until the concentrations of these other materials is reduced to below regulatory clearance levels.

Tritium (hydrogen-3) is a form of hydrogen and exists naturally all around us.

Radiation emitted by tritium is extremely weak, and is not dangerous provided it is within regulatory levels.

No, tritium does not become concentrated in organisms.

When discharging ALPS treated water into the sea, the relevant agencies conduct monitoring of seawater and marine products taken from near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station to investigate levels of tritium and other radioactive materials, and the findings are disclosed online.

If the monitoring of the local sea area indicates that the discharged water hasn't sufficiently dispersed and so on, the discharge will be immediately suspended.