Japan to dump over 1 mn tonnes of treated Fukushima water into sea

Some scientists say the long-term impact on marine life from low-dose exposure to such large volumes of water is unknown.

Japan’s government decided Tuesday to start releasing massive amounts of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukus­hima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in two years — an option fiercely opposed by local fishermen and residents.
 
The decision, long speculated but delayed for years due to safety concerns and protests, came at a meeting of Cabinet ministers who endorsed the ocean release as the best option.
 
The accumulating water has been stored in tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant since 2011, when a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged its reactors and their cooling water became contaminated and began