Japanese Labs Reliable in Analysing Seawater, Sediment and Fish Samples Near Fukushima, IAEA Report Finds

Two other exercises, called proficiency tests, confirmed that participating laboratories were performing well in measuring radioactivity in water samples. In these exercises, the IAEA prepared low radioactivity seawater test samples and had the Japanese laboratories measure their level of radioactivity. The amount of radioactivity in these so called spiked samples was not known to the participating laboratories, who reported their methods and results to the IAEA. Proficiency test results published so far are available on the IAEA website.

The analyses and the studies were part of the IAEA’s work to assist the Government of Japan in ensuring that its sea area monitoring around Fukushima Daiichi maintains a high quality, and is comprehensive, credible and transparent.

The work was a follow-up activity to recommendations made on marine monitoring in a report by the IAEA in 2013 related to the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which reviewed Japan's efforts to plan and implement the decommissioning of the plant.

Interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency test exercises are held to support high-quality gathering and analysis of marine samples and radioactivity data. The IAEA runs similar exercises for analytical laboratories worldwide so that they can improve and maintain high quality analytical capabilities.