Is Fukushima's Radioactive Water Safe?

In 2011, a tsunami engulfed the Japanese coastline and precipitated the second worst nuclear accident in history. This year, Japan is planning on releasing some of this catastrophe – water contaminated with tritium – back into the ocean. Is it safe? Does it make sense? This [HALF-LIFE HISTORY] traveled to Fukushima Daiichi to find out.

00:00 Intro
02:50 The Water
09:25 The Tour
16:50 The Future

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😎: Kyle
✂: Charles Shattuck
🤖: @Claire Max
🎼: Mëydan

[kylehill]

*Thanks for watching.* This was obviously a difficult story to unravel. I had to keep the facts in front of me while acknowledging the optics and politics of the situation. I hope what comes through is something more nuanced than anything you've read on the topic so far. At least two more videos from Fukushima to come before the end of the year.

[XdeadsoulXful]

I sometimes miss the silly Because Science days but Kyle being able to do what he wants to has been an amazing thing to witness and clearly for the best. kudos to you for everything you do, Kyle. much love

[EstebanDVO]

Thank you for educating the masses on this. So much misinformation going around over this.

[MrJason]

As an engineer at a nuclear power plant in the UK, I have to say this was very well put together! I even got caught out by forgetting that thin plastic could stop beta radiation, because I kept thinking how I could put up my dosimeter up against the container of Tritium water, but it would be a pointless exercise as the beta radiation would be shielded by the plastic. You also impressed me with your knowledge of the industry acronyms, ALARA (or ALARP as we call it in the UK industry).

Overall, excellent video and good scientific knowledge!

[lenorevanalstine]

it still breaks my heart that the meltdown could have been avoided if the company running the plant had listened and just moved the backup generators which they were told was necessary multiple times

[wexwdkv]

I love how every few minutes there's an open ended "Should we be concerned?/Is this safe?" question in the style of hyperbolic media, immediately followed up with a reasonable answer explaining the actual science behind it.

It's so refreshing to see someone put so much effort and dedication into properly educating people as opposed to doing whatever will get you clicks. Keep it up!

[andreatelesforo]

This was probably one of the most eye opening videos I’ve ever seen about Fukushima and what’s happening after the disaster. Thank you.

[ttttyyyy]

As someone who experienced the 311 earthquake that led to the Fukushima nuclear accident, twelve years ago, I was studying at a university approximately 180 kilometers away from Fukushima. When the accident occurred, government officials repeatedly claimed every day that the situation was under control. However, during a press conference one day, in front of everyone, the roof of the nuclear power plant was blown off, that day, All the international students rushed to the airport.

[UncleManuel]

This. This is the reason why Kyle is one of the best communicator of all things nuclear. His Half-Life series is a national treasure, he has created a long-lasting legacy with it... 👍👍

[Valkerion]

As someone who has lived and worked in Japan for a decade now nonstop, I can confirm Kyle's experience and subsequent confusion about the heavy PR positive edge of things is the standard operating practice here for all kinds of stuff. Sometimes it can be helpful for both domestic (which is definitely their main concern because remember people got displaced and still hold hope to return home) and international. It's antedotal but no shortage of times have I/my friends been filmed/photographed/dubbed over purely for positive imagry, thankfully never for anything so sensitive. I'll never forget 3 years ago the local government used photos taken of me and my co-workers as promotion for the "giga school" initiative, a program to introduce more technology in the classroom. It shows us smiling and talking with kids while using ipads to video call another country... a program that was controversial 2 months prior because they fired 60 part-time teachers in our region alone to fund it... but now they could jerry rig a positive spin with almost stock footage.

Either way, I really enjoyed this look at the area from Kyle. Even as a resident, I think hearing multiple sides, especially one that has no skin in the game, is important. Good work and I hope the trip was enjoyable beyond just working.

[vaqueroezpacial]

The importance of your role as a communicator of science in a way that is accessible to so many different people makes you already a legendary figure in the field of science based public speakers. Cannot wait to see the next videos on this topic.

[blitzkrieg]

As always, phenomenal delivery. No punches pulled, no corners cut. I greatly appreciate your efforts to educate and entertain, as well as your demonstrating that the two need not be mutually exclusive. You are absolutely killing it sir, and I hope you continue for a long time to come!

[luwells]

I love that Kyle breaks stuff like this down enough that people who aren't well versed on the subject can understand it while people who are can still enjoy it and feel like they learned something.

[kellykramer]

Been looking forward to this episode of HLH. Thanks for investigating and summing up all of this. My perception of nuclear accidents, orphan sources, etc has definitely changed for the better.

[Duspende]

I'm tired. So very tired. Tired of governments and corporations trying to spin a narrative.This ridiculous that 'this' is the reality we live in. Thanks for another great video, Kyle. Absolute banger.

[deanmartin]

This kind of story is what Kyle does better than any other YouTuber I have watched.

[sixftin]

Former US Navy nuclear reactor operator here. I spent that whole day at work explaining the news to everyone.

In the Navy, we always said "Dilution is the Solution to Pollution." Also, every nuclear carrier and submarine in the US Navy discharges primary coolant water overboard almost daily. The ratio of the discharged Fukushima tritium water to the OCEAN is astronomically minuscule.

[ticijevish]

Personally, I think that Fukushima Daini needs to be mentioned in every video on Fukushima Daichi. It is the sister nuclear power plant to the on covered in this video. It is a ways down the coast from Fukushima Daichi and suffered the same conditions as it did on that day.
However, Fukushima Daini did not melt down and achieved safe cold shutdown within 48hrs of the tsunami hitting it, despite suffering pretty much the same conditions as Daichi.
The differences in design and response need to be emphasized so everyone can see just how man-made this disaster was.

[WilliamAndySmith-Romaq]

Thank you. You set a very high standard for brutal honesty without sensationalism. Your "half-life" series is my GO TO for discussions of nuclear power, nuclear waste, and nuclear safety.

[pyrowolf]

I appreciate you teaching us. I used to be hesitant on nuclear power but you’ve now made me very pro nuclear power. It would be wonderful if the media stopped using false scare tactics against nuclear power yet have little understanding of how things truly are.