日本为把受损核电站的辐射污染水排放入海一事进行辩护，否认这一排放构成任何即时的健康问题或者违反国际海事法。星期二，福岛核电站附近海域的辐射水平目前已经达到法定限度的数百万倍。技术人员正在该电站向海里排放数千吨污染较轻的水。
日本外相松本刚明星期二说，日本做了一切事情来把对海洋污染的程度降到最低，并且保证向国际社会通报日本根据联合国规定所作的决定。位于日本西边的韩国说，韩国担心，含有高度辐射的成千上万吨水可能流到韩国海岸。
运营这座核电站的东京电力公司说，星期六在福岛核电站附近海域测量的辐射碘水平超过法定限度的750万倍。星期一早上另一次检测发现辐射性碘水平超过合法限度的500万倍。东京电力公司说，截至星期二上午，已经有2800吨辐射水从一个临时存放设施排入大海。该公司计划清空水罐中的1万吨水，为辐射性更强并在该电站阻碍维修工作的水腾出空间。另外1500吨水正在从临近两座建筑排出。
日本政府还说，在核电站以南的海域首次发现食用鱼出现辐射水平上升。日本政府内阁官房长官枝野幸男说，政府已经建立了与蔬菜同样数值的鱼类及海产品的可允许辐射标准，立即生效。
Japan is defending its massive dump of radiation-contaminated water from its disabled nuclear plant into the sea, denying the disposal poses any immediate health problems or violates international maritime law. Radioactivity at levels several million times the legal limit were detected in the ocean near the Fukushima plant on Tuesday, where technicians are pumping thousands of tons of less tainted water into the sea.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said Tuesday that Japan had done everything to minimize the contamination of the ocean and promised to inform the international community of its decisions in accordance with UN regulations. South Korea, which lies due west of Japan, has said it is concerned that the release of thousands of tons of water carrying high radiation levels could reach its shores.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company that operates the plant said radioactive iodine was measured Saturday at 7.5 million times the legal limit in the sea near the nuclear power plant. Another measurement Monday morning found levels at 5 million times the legal limit.
TEPCO said 2,800 tons of radioactive water had been pumped into the sea from a temporary storage facility by Tuesday morning. The company plans to empty 10,000 tons of water from the tank to make room for water that is much more highly contaminated and preventing repair work at the plant.Another 1,500 tons is being pumped from two nearby buildings.
The government also says elevated levels of radioactivity have been detected for the first time in edible fish south of the plant. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the government has established an allowable standard for radioactivity in fish and seafood equal to that for vegetables, effective immediately.