(单词翻译:单击)
Japan began to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday afternoon.
本周四下午，日本开始向太平洋排放福岛第一核电站处理过的放射性污水。
The plant was destroyed in 2011 when powerful tsunami waves caused three reactor meltdowns.
2011年，强大的海啸导致三座反应堆熔毁，给福岛第一核电站造成毁灭性打击。
Plant operator Tepco expects the release of nearly 1.3 million metric tons of wastewater -- that were used to cool the fuel rods -- to take around three decades.
该核电站的运营商东京电力公司预计，近130万吨用于冷却燃料棒的核污水，需要大约30年的时间才能排出。
But first, it intends to put out smaller amounts with extra checks.
但第一步，东京电力公司打算先放出一小部分的核污水。
Tepco says the initial release, to take place over 17 days, will be equivalent to three Olympic swimming pools.
该公司称，第一次排放将在大约17天内完成，总量相当于大约三个奥运会游泳池的水量。
China has been one of the fiercest critics of the release, and on Thursday once again voiced strong opposition to Japan's decision, with its foreign ministry saying quote:
一直一来，中国都是对日本排放核污水入海批评声最大的国家之一，周四，中方再次对日本的决定表示强烈反对，中国外交部称：
"The Japanese side should not cause secondary harm to the local people and even the people of the world out of its own selfish interests."
“日方不应出于一己之私利，给当地民众乃至世界人民造成二次伤害。”
China has said it will take necessary measures to protect the ocean, food safety and public health.
中方表示，将采取一切必要措施保护海洋，维护食品安全和中国人民的身体健康。
The move has also divided opinion within Japan, where on Thursday afternoon, opponents protested outside Tepco's headquarters for about an hour,
排核污水入海这一举措，在日本国内也引发了意见分歧，周四下午，反对者在东京电力公司总部外抗议了大约一个小时，
as well as in South Korea, though the government in Seoul has said its own assessment found no problems with the scientific and technical aspects of the release.
在韩国，也有同样的抗议，尽管首尔政府表示，他们自己的评估没有发现排核污水入海在科学和技术方面存在问题。
Japan's environment ministry said it will conduct monitoring around the water release area and publish results weekly.
日本环境省称，将在排水区域周围进行监测，并每周公布结果。
