The science behind the Fukushima waste water release - BBC News

The BBC takes a look at the science behind the controversial water release.

12 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsFukushima nuclear disasterImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Japan is releasing waste water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean after receiving a green light from the IAEABy Navin Singh KhadkaEnvironment correspondent, BBC World ServiceJapan has begun releasing treated radioactive water from its damaged Fukushima power plant into the Pacific Ocean - 12 years after a nuclear meltdown.

That's despite China slapping a ban on Japanese seafood and protests in Japan itself and South Korea.

The UN's atomic regulator says the water will have "negligible" radiological impact on people and the environment.

But is it safe?

An earthquake followed by a tsunami in 2011 wrecked the nuclear power plant, destroying its cooling system and causing reactor cores to overheat and contaminate water within the facility with highly radioactive material.