Japan Press Weekly

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2011 April 13 - 19 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Ichida calls for study on impact of radiation in the ocean

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Ichida Tadayoshi on April 14 demanded that the government immediately establish a system to monitor the impact on marine life and the marine environment caused by the leaks of water contaminated with radioactivity from the TEPCO’s Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant.

In the Upper House Environment Committee, Ichida pointed out that investigations conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Fisheries Agency are limited to only collecting seawater samples and checking fish, and that they do not conduct an impact assessment on plankton, seaweed, and bottom feeders.

He showed that experts and research institutes both at home and abroad place emphasis on accurate assessment and monitoring of species, including seabed mud and microorganisms, and said, “It is legitimate to focus our efforts on crisis prevention of nuclear accidents, however, we should not postpone conducting an investigation and implementing countermeasures against environmental loads and impacts on people.”

Matsumoto Ryu, the environment minister, answered, saying “You made an important point. The Ministry of the Environment will consider your proposal.”

Ichida further pressed him, saying “It is necessary to provide detailed information,” and Matsumoto answered, “I will take measures to remove various fears regarding the negative impact on marine species.”

Stating that the environment ministry or the environmental protection agency holds jurisdiction over prevention of radioactive contamination in foreign countries, Ichida stressed, “Radiation contamination is the worst form of environmental pollution. The Environment Ministry must take full responsibility for protecting human health and the environment.”