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The ocean is already a dumping ground, full of plastic. When cut open, turtles and whales are revealed to be full of it. It's in the flesh of fish. Many signato

The ocean is already a dumping ground, full of plastic. When cut open, turtles and whales are revealed to be full of it. It's in the flesh of fish. Many signatories of the UN CotLotS are not even close to pulling their weight when it comes to their obligation to the ocean. The half life of tritium is 12 years. I am not motivated to believe that this is the real issue people say it is. We're at far greater risk from microplastics and PFAS; a constant, continuing, growing source of pollution worldwide, on land and water, than from a one-time release of some radioactive, contaminated water. The water has to go somewhere and somewhere it goes.

hypercube33 3y ago
I'm on Mobile but there is a documentary that shows Japan "burns" it's garbage and uses it as an ocean landfill to acquire more land. At least in the videos I've seen they don't incinerate it hot enough to burn plastic and there was visible plastic (bags) in the fill. Also we (USA) detonated a bunch of nukes in the ocean already and I really wonder if that has already done far more eco damage than their proposed contaminated water dump on the flip side of coin since as mentioned the half life is short and it's supposed to be low quantities per water volume to start with.
- ksaj 3y ago
  I think that happens everywhere. For example, Toronto, from Front Street (aptly named, since it was the waterfront once upon a time) to the actual waterfront, complete with all its skyrises and highways, is 100% landfill underneath. I'm guessing we've done it right though, because we haven't had random garbage "sprouting" as often happens in places that used to be literal dumps. There are old maps that show how the waterfront grew over the years to where it is now. Very interesting to look at.
seanmcdirmid 3y ago
The amount of radiation they are dumping is equivalent to 3 bananas per 8 ounces of water, which should be fine. Yes, bananas are more radioactive than the average fruit, but they are still delicious.
- ksaj 3y ago
  Except it's trillions of bananas. I don't think these comparisons are helpful because of the scale in question. Everyone understands that it is greatly watered down, and will be meted out over decades. You can make this exact same argument for microplastics, yet look at the damage they're associated with already.

hypercube33 3y ago

I'm on Mobile but there is a documentary that shows Japan "burns" it's garbage and uses it as an ocean landfill to acquire more land. At least in the videos I've seen they don't incinerate it hot enough to burn plastic and there was visible plastic (bags) in the fill. Also we (USA) detonated a bunch of nukes in the ocean already and I really wonder if that has already done far more eco damage than their proposed contaminated water dump on the flip side of coin since as mentioned the half life is short and it's supposed to be low quantities per water volume to start with.

ksaj 3y ago
I think that happens everywhere. For example, Toronto, from Front Street (aptly named, since it was the waterfront once upon a time) to the actual waterfront, complete with all its skyrises and highways, is 100% landfill underneath. I'm guessing we've done it right though, because we haven't had random garbage "sprouting" as often happens in places that used to be literal dumps. There are old maps that show how the waterfront grew over the years to where it is now. Very interesting to look at.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago

The amount of radiation they are dumping is equivalent to 3 bananas per 8 ounces of water, which should be fine. Yes, bananas are more radioactive than the average fruit, but they are still delicious.

ksaj 3y ago
Except it's trillions of bananas. I don't think these comparisons are helpful because of the scale in question. Everyone understands that it is greatly watered down, and will be meted out over decades. You can make this exact same argument for microplastics, yet look at the damage they're associated with already.