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.

　　日本為把受損核電站的輻射污染水排放入海一事進行辯護，否認這一排放構成任何即時的健康問題或者違反國際海事法。星期二，福島核電站附近海域的輻射水平目前已經達到法定限度的數百萬倍。技術人員正在該電站向海里排放數千噸污染較輕的水。

　　日本外相松本剛明星期二說，日本做了一切事情來把對海洋污染的程度降到最低，并且保證向國際社會通報日本根據聯合國規定所作的決定。位于日本西邊的韓國說，韓國擔心，含有高度輻射的成千上萬噸水可能流到韓國海岸。

　　運營這座核電站的東京電力公司說，星期六在福島核電站附近海域測量的輻射碘水平超過法定限度的750萬倍。星期一早上另一次檢測發現輻射性碘水平超過合法限度的500萬倍。東京電力公司說，截至星期二上午，已經有2800噸輻射水從一個臨時存放設施排入大海。該公司計劃清空水罐中的1萬噸水，為輻射性更強并在該電站阻礙維修工作的水騰出空間。另外1500噸水正在從臨近兩座建筑排出。

　　日本政府還說，在核電站以南的海域首次發現食用魚出現輻射水平上升。日本政府內閣官房長官枝野幸男說，政府已經建立了與蔬菜同樣數值的魚類及海產品的可允許輻射標準，立即生效。

　　相關推薦：

　　英語四級閱讀：毀壞海洋 威脅海洋生物

　　英語四級閱讀：未來的汽車是什么樣子的?

　　2011英語六級考試寫作過關策略：三步走套路