Japan may dump radioactive water from Fukushima into the ocean
Ever since a 2011 earthquake caused a meltdown at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, workers have been injecting the plant with massive amounts of water to cool molten fuel cores. Now, with more than 800,000 tons of contaminated water in storage, the country is running out of room, CNN reports.
Officials say they may dump the water, contaminated with radioactive materials, into the ocean.
Japan's environment minister Yoshiaki Harada said in a press conference on Tuesday the only solution is to "release it into the ocean and dilute it," reports CNN. Other Japanese government officials say they have not made a decision yet.
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Experts from neighboring South Korea have voiced concerns about safety. They noted in August the two countries should work together to ensure the contaminated water doesn't impact ocean or human health in Japan and the surrounding areas.
Decontamination of the plant is expected to last another two years, per CNN. So far, one person has died in association with cleanup efforts at the nuclear site. Read more at CNN.
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Taylor Watson is audience engagement editor for TheWeek.com and a former editorial assistant. She graduated from Syracuse University, with a major in magazine journalism and minors in food studies and nutrition. Taylor has previously written for Runner's World, Vice, and more.
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