Category: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

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What is Isotope Hydrology?

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Like everything we see in the world, isotopes are a type of atom, the smallest unit of matter that retains all the chemical properties of an element. Isotopes are forms of a chemical element with specific properties. 

You can see the different chemical elements on the periodic table. 

Each element is distinguished by the number of protons, neutrons and electrons that it possesses. The atoms of each chemical element have a defined number of protons and electrons, but – crucially – not neutrons, whose numbers can vary. 

Atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. They share almost the same chemical properties, but differ in mass and therefore in physical properties.  

There are stable isotopes, which do not emit radiation, and there are unstable isotopes, which do emit radiation. The latter are called radioisotopes. 

Learn more about isotopes here.

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Latest IAEA Reports Confirm Japan’s ALPS Treated Water Release Continues to Meet International Safety Standards

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The discharge of treated water from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) is proceeding in line with international safety standards, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Task Force confirmed today in its third report since the water discharge began in August 2023.

During its mission to Japan from December 9 to 12, 2024, the Task Force assessed the technical and regulatory aspects of the ALPS-treated water discharge. This included an on-site visit to the FDNPS facility to directly observe the equipment and infrastructure installed by Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the FDNPS for the water discharge. The report also summarised the Task Force’s discussions with the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

The Task Force report reaffirmed the findings of the IAEA’s comprehensive safety review, stating that its overall conclusions remain consistent with those from its first and second missions conducted after the discharge began. It emphasized that Japan’s NRA has maintained a comprehensive inspection plan, including onsite monitoring to ensure the safety of the water that is discharged. Additionally, the Task Force confirmed that the equipment and facilities are operating in accordance with relevant international safety standards.

In the IAEA Comprehensive Report on the Safety Review of the ALPS-Treated Water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that was released in July 2023 prior to the discharge, the IAEA found Japan’s approach to discharging the treated water to be consistent with international safety standards. It also said that the discharges as planned would have a negligible radiological impact to people and the environment. The IAEA Task Force has carried out eight missions as part of the safety review since the beginning of the IAEA’s multiyear review that began two years before the water discharge.

Today’s report also reviewed the IAEA’s ongoing independent verification of Japan’s monitoring programs, as well as onsite sampling and analysis conducted by IAEA experts at FDNPS since July 2023, when Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi established an IAEA office at the site. The IAEA’s onsite laboratory has analyzed the first eleven water discharges, confirming that the tritium concentration in each batch of diluted ALPS-treated water remains well below Japan’s operational limit consistent with international safety standards.

The Task Force noted the importance of the IAEA’s ongoing corroboration activities and the IAEA onsite independent sampling and analyses in providing a comprehensive, transparent and independent verification of the accuracy and reliability of the data reported by TEPCO and the Government of Japan.

Interlaboratory Comparisons

The IAEA has also released reports today on two interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) for determining radionuclides in ALPS-treated water and in marine environmental samples collected from near to FDNPS, part of the Agency’s comprehensive monitoring and assessment efforts.

ILCs involve multiple laboratories independently analyzing samples, then reporting their results to the IAEA for evaluation to assess their reliability and accuracy.

One report presents the findings from an ILC based on samples collected during a mission in October 2023 when the IAEA, with experts from third-party laboratories, observed Japan’s collection and pretreatment of samples of seawater, sediment, fish and seaweed from coastal and offshore locations and a fish market close to FDNPS. Laboratories in Canada, China and the Republic of Korea, as well as the IAEA’s laboratories in Austria and Monaco, analysed the samples and reported the results to the IAEA for intercomparison.

The IAEA report confirms that Japan’s methods for sampling follow the appropriate methodological standards and that Japanese laboratories have reported accurate results that demonstrate a high degree of proficiency. The IAEA notes that these findings provide confidence in Japan’s capability for conducting reliable and high-quality monitoring related to the discharge of ALPS treated water.

The second ILC report, also released today, corroborates Japan’s source monitoring of ALPS treated water from the eighth batch prior to discharge  in August last year. Water sampled from the tanks was analysed in laboratories in China, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the United States, as well as in the IAEA laboratories. Following assessment of the results submitted, the IAEA said the findings provide confidence in TEPCO’s capability for conducting reliable and high-quality source monitoring.

Corroboration of Internal Exposure Monitoring

Additionally, the Agency released a report today confirming that TEPCO is accurately monitoring the internal radiation exposure of workers handling ALPS-treated water.

The report presents the findings from ILCs organized by the IAEA last year, which corroborated results from IAEA, French and Japanese laboratories. The findings highlight that TEPCO has demonstrated both a high level of accuracy in their measurements and strong technical competence. A report focusing on external radiation exposure monitoring was published in November 2024.

All reports, as well as additional information such as frequently asked questions and a timeline of activities, can be found on the IAEA’s Fukushima Daiichi ALPS Treated Water Discharge webpage.

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Glaciers on Borrowed Time: Capturing Data from Vanishing Ice in Bolivia

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

If current trends continue, the Western Huayna Potosí’s glacier—important for drinking water—could vanish entirely in twenty years. (Photo: Edson Ramírez)

The device will stay long after the scientists descend, transmitting signals beyond the mountains via satellite—a digital memory preserving information about what the ice can no longer hold.

“Current glacial retreat now functions as a thermometer of accelerating climate shifts, with its rapid pace signalling the urgency of rising global temperatures,” says Gerd Dercon, Head of the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre. “As the ice melts and refreezes, it reveals not only the changes in climate but also the fragile dependencies human civilization has on these frozen reservoirs.”

In the valleys below, hundreds of thousands of people depend on the glacier’s water. Llamas and alpacas graze in the fertile grasslands, their pastures fed by the seasonal meltwater that has shaped this high-altitude ecosystem for centuries. Farmers equally rely on it to irrigate their crops and feed their livestock, while one million inhabitants of El Alto, a city close to Bolivia’s capital La Paz, depend on it for drinking water.

For generations, these ice fields have served as an unspoken contract between the mountain and those who live in its shadow, releasing water at a pace that allowed life to flourish. Now, that contract is breaking.

The reasons are clear. Rising global temperatures are melting glaciers around the world, but here in Bolivia, the crisis is accelerating. Sediments from ice-free areas are transported by strong winds and deposited onto the glacier, darkening its surface and increasing heat absorption.  

By analysing sediments released from areas now exposed by glacial melt and accumulating in lakes and reservoirs, scientists are not only tracking the effect of the retreat of the ice on sediment distribution but also uncovering broader environmental shifts. These climate-driven changes may impact soil fertility, water quality, and water chemistry.

Cyclical weather patterns like El Niño amplify the warming, causing erratic swings in precipitation and rapid melting. Scientists predict that if these trends continue, the Western Huayna Potosí’s glacier—important for drinking water and once thought eternal by the locals—could vanish entirely in twenty years.

“Stopping the retreat of the glacier will not be possible,” says Dercon. “But we have to capture the water in several ways.” In Bolivia, communities have built more reservoirs, including smaller ones, dredged some old ones and raised the walls of dams. The land also needs to be worked differently, shaped to hold water rather than shed it, the soil taught to embrace. In this, reforesting the area with native trees and halting overgrazing of hungry llamas and livestock are fundamental changes for supporting healthy soils and land regeneration.  

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IAEA Visits India to Strengthen Cooperation in Energy and Cancer Treatment

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

During the visit, Mr Grossi signed a partnership on a new cancer centre as part of the Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative. 

“I am proud to recognize Tata Memorial as an IAEA Rays of Hope Anchor Centre. A leader of the Global South, India has built strong cancer care expertise—now it’s time to share it with the world. With this partnership, we will bring India’s know-how to regions that need it most,” said the Director General.  

Tata Memorial Centre is the latest Rays of Hope Anchor Centre, joining six others supporting cancer care in the Asia Pacific region. There are now 11 Anchor Centres around the world, serving as knowledge and capacity building hubs to expand access to cancer care where it is needed most, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. 

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Update 281 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said it was encouraging to see the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) being “considered in ongoing conversations” on the military conflict in Ukraine and he stressed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was ready to provide its technical support for those efforts.

“Without interruption, the IAEA has been present at this major nuclear plant for two and a half years now, doing everything possible to help prevent a potentially disastrous nuclear accident. We all wish for this devastating war to end as soon as possible,” Director General Grossi said.

“With our in-depth knowledge and expertise about the situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, we stand ready to provide our technical contributions and support in the implementation of a future agreement regarding the plant. We will remain present for as long as it is needed to help ensure nuclear safety and security,” he said.

Earlier this week, Director General Grossi said in a social media statement that he welcomed “developments on restraint around energy infrastructure” which would contribute to the safety of the ZNPP, located on the frontline of the conflict.

At the ZNPP over the past week, the IAEA team based there has been observing various maintenance activities that are currently being conducted, an area of work that is of critical importance for overall nuclear safety and security but challenging to sustain during the military conflict.

These activities include maintenance at the plant’s 750 kilovolt (kV) open switchyard, where a new fixed diesel generator has also been installed to provide electricity in case all off-site power were to be lost again. In addition, the team monitored maintenance of the main transformer of reactor unit 5 and of safety equipment in unit 1. Separately, the 330 kV back-up power line was temporarily disconnected for maintenance of a circuit breaker in this switchyard.

“For all nuclear power plants, regular maintenance of structures, systems and components is necessary to prevent degradation of these essential items that would increase the risks to nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.

“This has been a particularly challenging issue during the past three years of war, when much of the focus has been on averting more immediate threats to nuclear safety and security and there has also been a lack of staff and other resources. That remains very much the case but it is positive that some maintenance is still being carried out,” he said.

In his latest report on Ukraine, issued ahead of the regular IAEA Board of Governors meeting earlier this month, Director General Grossi said that the ZNPP had provided the IAEA with the plant’s high-level maintenance plan for 2025, including periods of planned maintenance for all its six reactor units.

However, he also noted in the report that “the maintenance being conducted is not yet at the comprehensive level that would normally be expected”.

Over the past week, the IAEA team also visited the reactor building and safety system rooms of the ZNPP’s unit 2, observing the presence of condensation on the walls and floor of the reactor hall and some preliminary signs of corrosion in some unpainted areas. The ZNPP said the condensation was caused by the cold shutdown status of the reactor.

Last week, the IAEA team reported hearing military activities at various distances away from the ZNPP, but it had appeared quieter so far this week.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, planned maintenance and refuelling activities at one reactor unit of the Khmelnytskyy NPP are continuing, while one of the reactor units at the South Ukraine NPP had to temporarily reduce power to repair a pump water leak, which has now been completed.

On most days over the past week, the IAEA teams at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl site reported hearing air raid alarms. Last Friday, the teams at the Khmelnytskyy and Rivne NPPs sheltered at the sites.

Separately, the IAEA has continued with its comprehensive programme of nuclear safety and security assistance to Ukraine, with two new deliveries of equipment bringing the total number since the start of the armed conflict to 115.

The Rivne Regional Centre for Hydrometeorology received one Gamma Spectrometer System and the State Enterprise USIE Izotop – involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – a pick-up truck. The deliveries were supported with funding from the European Union and the Republic of Korea. More support is expected to reach Ukraine in coming months.

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From Disaster Recovery to Saving Cultural Heritage: IAEA Boosts Assistance to Countries in Non-Destructive Testing

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Non-destructive testing encompasses a variety of techniques that leverage the interactions of matter with radiation, sound, magnetic fields, electrical currents, and testing agents to inspect materials without damaging them. The most used methods include industrial radiography, ultrasonic testing, liquid penetrant inspection and magnetic particle inspection.

Using gamma or X rays, industrial radiography plays a critical role in creating images that can reveal the safety and quality of civil engineering structures, as bridges, tunnels, dams and buildings are subject to deterioration from environmental stress, including extreme events like earthquakes. NDT is used extensively to inspect aircraft structures, turbine blades and pressure vessels.

As NDT allows experts to inspect objects without harming them, it also contributes significantly to the field of cultural heritage. NDT techniques enable experts to analyse the internal structures of priceless artifacts, sculptures, and historical structures without causing damage, which aids in restoration and conservation efforts.

Meet the Scientists at #ICARST2025

Innovations and latest developments in NDT techniques will be prominently featured at the upcoming International Conference on Applications of Radiation Science and Technology, which will gather hundreds of experts from radiation-related physics, chemistry, materials science, biology, and engineering fields in Vienna from 7 to 11 April 2025. The conference will be livestreamed. 

Following on from previous conferences in 2017 and 2022, #ICARST2025 will showcase how radiation sciences have contributed to industrial growth and economic development by providing versatile tools and processes to produce high quality products in a clean and efficient manner. Participants will discuss how these technologies help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“At a side event on Enhancing Global Collaboration in NDT for Disaster Recovery Enhancement, we will highlight the importance of strong international stakeholder networks in our NDT emergency response plan,” said Hannah Affum, an Industrial Technologist at the IAEA. “We will also sign Practical Arrangements with the International Committee for Non-Destructive Testing (ICDNT) for the promotion of increased use of NDT in industry, civil engineering, and cultural heritage.”

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Focus on Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste at Eighth Review Meeting of the Joint Convention

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

You can see the livestream of the meeting here.

The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management – or Joint Convention – is a legally binding instrument that seeks to achieve and maintain a high level of worldwide safety in spent fuel and radioactive waste management. Over the next two weeks, from 17 to 28 March, Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention will present and discuss their National Reports on implementation of the Convention’s obligations.

Jean-Luc Lachaume, Acting President of the Eighth Review Meeting, from France, welcomed more than 1000 delegates from 77 Contracting Parties and a Signatory State, Lebanon.

 “The challenges before us demand collective resolve. By achieving consensus we demonstrate to the public we serve and to the future generations that together we will continue to advance the principles and goals that bring us together under the banner of the safe management of nuclear waste for generations to come,” said Lachaume on behalf of President Ramzi Jammal.

Delegates will also share their experiences and lessons learned during a topical session on knowledge management in relation to long term management of disused sealed radioactive sources, radioactive waste and spent fuel. In addition, during open-ended working group sessions, delegates will discuss seven proposals submitted by Contracting Parties for improving the Joint Convention procedural mechanisms.  

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

With growing interest from IAEA Member States in Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, the Eighth Review Meeting also offers a timely and crucial opportunity to reflect on lessons learned from the past and reiterate the importance of early planning and implementation of policies and strategies for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel for the future.

“Joining and adhering to the Joint Convention acknowledges the importance of thinking early about the full lifecycle of a nuclear facility and planning early to ensure the necessary infrastructure, competence and capacity exists for the safe management of spent fuel, radioactive waste, and decommissioning of facilities,” said Nelli Aghajanyan, coordinator of the Joint Convention.

Review Meetings are held every three years, staring from the entry into force of the Joint Convention in 2001. More information, including meeting summary reports as well as the national reports of Contracting Parties from previous review cycles, are available on the Joint Convention public website.

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IAEA to Host Eighth Review Meeting of the Joint Convention

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The Eighth Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (the Joint Convention) will be held at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the M-Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC) from 17 to 28 March. 

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will address the opening plenary session on 17 March at 09:00 CET. Jean-Luc Lachaume, Commissioner of the French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection, will preside over the Eighth Review Meeting and will open the proceedings.   

In force since 2001, the Joint Convention seeks to achieve and maintain a high level of worldwide safety in spent fuel and radioactive waste management. Currently, of the 180 IAEA Member States, 90 are party to the Convention. At Review Meetings held every three years, the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention present and discuss national reports on the implementation of obligations under the Convention. 

The agenda for the two-week meeting also includes a topical session on knowledge management related to long term management of disused sealed radioactive sources, radioactive waste and spent fuel, and a discussion of Contracting Parties’ proposals for enhancing the review process. 

Press Opportunities 

Journalists are invited to attend: 

  • and the part of the closing session where the Contracting Parties will adopt a Summary Report – currently foreseen to be held in the afternoon of 28 March. For the exact timing of the closing session, please contact press@iaea.org. 

Both sessions will be streamed live and will take place in Boardroom B/M1 in M Building of the VIC. Photos will also be made available at the IAEA Flickr page. 

Accreditation 

All journalists interested in covering the meeting in person – including those with permanent accreditation – are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans. Journalists without permanent accreditation must send copies of their passport and press ID to the IAEA Press Office.  

We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation to request it at UNIS Vienna.  

Please plan your arrival to allow sufficient time to pass through the VIC security check.  

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IAEA and World Bank Join Forces to Strengthen Water Security in Niger

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and Niger’s Minister of Hydraulics, Sanitation, and Environment, Maizama Abdoulaye sign an agreement, supported by World Bank funding, to improve water security in the country.  The agreement was on 13 March 2025 in Niamey. (Photo: D. Candano Laris/IAEA)

The IAEA and Niger have signed an agreement, backed by World Bank funding, to improve water security in the country. This landmark collaboration will strengthen water resource management by building a national water quality laboratory and modernizing regional water laboratories in the country.

“With water scarcity affecting lives and livelihoods, strengthening Niger’s water management is critical,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. “With this agreement, we are providing the country with the infrastructure, tools, and expertise it needs to better manage this precious resource. Niger can count on the IAEA to strengthen its water management capabilities and build long-term resilience on this front,” he said.

The agreement was signed on Thursday in Niamey by the IAEA Director General and Niger’s Minister of Hydraulics, Sanitation, and Environment, Maizama Abdoulaye, in the presence of Han Fraeters, World Bank Country Manager for Niger.

Niger faces severe water scarcity due to its arid climate, rapid population growth and limited water infrastructure and has growing concerns regarding water quality.

The modernization of Niger’s regional laboratories “is more vital than ever,” Minister Abdoulaye said.  “It is a question of speeding up the action to be taken, to warn the population of contamination risks and protect them against these chemical threats. I am delighted to sign this agreement with the IAEA, which will establish a reference laboratory and upgrade existing ones.”

Water security – its availability, quality, management and protection – is essential for human development and environmental and economic sustainability.  The IAEA helps countries to manage their freshwater resources using nuclear techniques – isotope hydrology – that provide information about both surface and groundwater supplies and their interaction, particularly on water origin, movement and quality. For groundwater the IAEA provides critical support to countries working on determining the age of their groundwater reserves to ensure that they can be managed sustainably.

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IAEA Director General Visits Niger to Strengthen Cooperation in Mining, Water Management and Cancer Care

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Niger’s first radiotherapy facility – the National Cancer Care Centre, was established with IAEA support in the country’s capital, Niamey. Mr Grossi visited the centre with Niger’s Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs, Garba Hakimi.

 “Niger was among the first countries supported under Rays of Hope and is now expanding cancer care with a new radiotherapy centre planned for the Zinder region,” Mr Grossi said. “The IAEA will continue working with Niger to strengthen cancer services, so more people receive cancer care closer to home.”

Through its Rays of Hope nitiative to expand access to cancer care where it is needed most, the IAEA has supported Niger in strengthening its radiotherapy services – most recently through the addition of a new radiotherapy bunker that will host a medical linear accelerator and other essential equipment. This expansion of Niger’s radiotherapy services will enable more cancer patients to receive this key treatment, which is needed in nearly half of all cancer cases.