[Global Network comprehensive report] Russian satellite network reported on April 13 that Japan is considering discharging nuclear wastewater containing tritium into the Pacific Ocean. Since the 2011 tsunami in northeastern Japan triggered the Fukushima nuclear leakage, Japan has been battling the nuclear leakage incident.

The challenge now is how to remove the radioactive material from the wastewater. The water was used to cool down the melted reactors. Other radioactive materials such as cesium and strontium have been removed from the hundreds of tons of wastewater stored at the site, but tritium is difficult to separate because of its ability to alter water molecules. The amount of tritium in the plant's wastewater is about 3.4 patacbecquerels, and the process of removing it from the water is also extremely expensive.

Japan and the international community are alarmed by the release of nuclear waste into the Pacific Ocean. But many scientists say the panic is unnecessary because tritium is one of the least harmful radioactive substances produced by nuclear power plants. "It's not something that even a plastic bag can penetrate." Says one scientist who holds this view.

Environmentalists, however, question that optimism and oppose releasing any wastewater containing tritium into the Pacific Ocean. They warn that tritium can cause cancer and other diseases, and that children are vulnerable and at risk. Anti-nuclear activists in Japan also say tritium must be removed from water, despite its low level of radioactivity.

However, despite the opposition, the plan to discharge the waste water by the end of this year is very likely to become a reality. (Revised by Yu Qian)

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