The east-Asian nation on Thursday started releasing water from the wrecked Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean, sparking protests within Japan and neighbouring countries, and prompting China to ban aquatic product imports from Japan.

The environment ministry’s tests of samples taken from 11 points near the plant concluded concentrations of radioactive isotope tritium below the lower limit of detection – 7 to 8BqL of tritium. It said the seawater “would have no adverse impact on human health and the environment”.

The ministry will publish test results weekly at least for the next three months and will then review the timing of further disclosure, an official told Reuters today.

Japan’s fisheries agency yesterday said tests of fish in waters around the plant did not detect tritium.

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) on Friday said seawater near the plant contained less than 10BqL of tritium, below its self-imposed limit of 700Bq and far below the World Health Organization’s limit of 10,000Bq for drinking water.

Tepco today said it had not detected any significant change.