TOKYO, July 5 (Reuters) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi met residents on Wednesday to assuage concerns over the safety of Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.
The reality of people, the economy, and social perceptions may be different from the science, he said, acknowledging the fears surrounding the water release.
Grossi will visit the wrecked plant on Wednesday, where he will inaugurate an IAEA office on site that will monitor the release of the water, which is expected to take 30 to 40 years.
Some neighbouring countries have also raised concerns over the threat to the environment, with Beijing emerging as the biggest critic.
The treated water will be diluted to well below internationally approved levels of tritium before being released into the Pacific.
Persons:
Rafael Grossi, Nozaki, Grossi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Fumio Kishida, Sakura Murakami, Chang, Ran Kim, Gerry Doyle
Organizations:
Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Nikkei, Korean, Yomiuri, Pacific, Thomson
Locations:
TOKYO, Japan, Beijing, East Asia