The contaminated water in Fukushima 1 is suspected of being absorbed into the Pacific Ocean

Japan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) July 10 expressed 'high skepticism' that highly contaminated water at the Fukushima 1 Power Station is entering groundwater and seeping into the Pacific Ocean.

NRA President Shunichi Tanaka said: 'We have to find the cause of pollution and put the highest priority for conducting countermeasures'.

Tanaka's remarks came after the NRA investigated recent investigations into radioactivity in groundwater at the plant showing a large amount of radioactive cesium and tritium.

Picture 1 of The contaminated water in Fukushima 1 is suspected of being absorbed into the Pacific Ocean
Overview of Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant after the earthquake and tsunami disaster (Source: AFP / VNA)

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which operates the plant, said that highly contaminated water leaks from the underground tunnel to the sea in April 2011 immediately after the nuclear crisis began to occur at the plant. but the NRA said that water containing radioactive toxins in the region is not the only cause.

According to TEPCO, the cesium concentration in groundwater collected on July 9 from a coastal monitoring well is 100 times higher than the water collected on July 5.

Samples of contaminated groundwater contain 11,000 becquerels (bql) / liter of cesi-134 isotopes and 22,000 bql / liter of cesium-137 isotopes. This water sample also contains 900,000 bql of other radioactive substances emitting beta rays such as tronti.

According to NRA officials, TEPCO has taken measures to encapsulate contaminated seawater in areas near the plant, but they have not completely prevented the spread of radioactive substances into the sea. However, TEPCO said there was no "significant impact" on the environment.