It is not a contagious disease transmitted through air or food, and it is not inherited. Minamata disease was first discovered in minamata city in kumamoto, japan, in. Minamata disease is a methylmercury poisoning with neurological symptoms and caused by the daily. Many infants with cerebral palsy in villages where adult cases occurred were established as having congenital minamata disease. Kyushu is a friendly place, and minamata especially so. Search for mercury pollution in minamata books in the search form now, download or read books for free, just by creating an account to enter our library.
Methylmercury poisoning in japan caused by environmental pollution. In another incident, methylmercury was involved in minamata disease in japan, affecting approximately 3000 people after consumption of contaminated fish, from the late 1950s to the mid1960s. However, 50 years later there are still arguments about the definition of md in terms of clinical symptoms and extent of lesions. In addition, as possible causes of minamata disease, the japan chemical industry association proposed an explosive theory on september 28, 1959, and professor raisuke kiyoura of tokyo institute of technology advocated an amino poisoning theory on apri1 12 of the next year. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from the chisso corporations chemical factory, which continued from 1932 to 1968. The minamata disaster and the disease that followed. Minamata disease, the existence of which was officially acknowledged by the government in 1956, is a.
A short introduction to the topic of minamata disease used in a recent awareness workshop. National research institute of aquaculture, i visited the minamata disease. C hapter2 the outbreak and origins of minamata disease. Minamata, minamatashi is a city located in kumamoto prefecture, japan. Minamata in kumamoto prefecture has long been known mainly for a deadly. According to the japanese government, 2,955 people contracted minamata disease and 1,784 people have since died. A case of suspected mercury poisoning minamata disease was studied. As she grows older, so the disease slowly progresses. Minamata disease is a toxic encephalopathy characterized by cerebellar atrophy of granulecell type, preferential injury of both calcarine regions and degenerative. Minamata diseases minamata disease japan kind of risk. Minamata disease, a form of health damage triggered by environmental pollution, caused major issues to the nature of polluted areas and local society at large. Minamata disease methylmercury poisoning was first discovered in 1956 around minamata bay, kumamoto prefecture, japan. Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in japan ministry of the environment, japan 2011.
A similar epidemic occurred in 1965 along the agano river, niigata prefecture, japan. This disease is an unusual neurological disorder resulting from eating a large amount of fish and shellfish of minamata bay in japan. In july 1959, the minamata disease study team of the faculty of medicine, university of kumamoto reported that it had reached the conclusion that the substance causing minamata disease was a mercury component, most likely an organomercury compound. Mpm as an acronym, japan, who ate local fish and shellfish contaminated with. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Minamata disease was officially discovered in 1956 in minamata, japan. Minamata in kumamoto prefecture has long been known mainly for a. Topics minamata bay, minamata disease, pollution, environmental disaster, disaster language english. Due to demand during world war, second mercury disaster occurred in niigata prefecture in 1965. Minamata disease mizue hori etsuko honda mariko matsubara slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising.
The pathological features and experimental results of minamata disease are summarized. Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in. The minamata disaster has certainly been the most outstanding example recorded of the effects of industrial irresponsibility and will remain as a never to be forgotten lesson. Minamata disease, disease first identified in 1956 in minamata, japan. Minamata disease is the name given to a neurological syndrome caused by organic mercury intoxication. A second epidemic in japan occurred in 1965 along the agano river, niigata prefecture. One of the most visible tragedies by industrial water pollution is minamata disease, methylmercury poisoning caused by eating contaminated fish, which has. The pathology of methylmercury poisoning minamata disease.
A documentary about the polluting of minamata bay and the illnesses that followed. Court orders damages paid to japan poisoning victims. During 19321968 local residents, especially fisher families have been suffering from a variety of symptoms. Dancer aims to reinvent minamata, long known for disease caused by pollution, into a city of samba. Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in japan. Learning from the minamata disease the negative legacy of minamata city the minamata disease broke out in the midst of rapid economic growth in japans postwar rehabilitation period.
Minamata disease is an example of organic toxicity. A fishing port, minamata was also the home of nippon chisso hiryo co. It is common knowledge that the minamata disease was officially. Minamata disease is a condition that people in most parts of the world are not familiar with, but it is painfully real to those living in the city of minamata, japan. It is on the west coast of kyushu and faces amakusa islands. Article information, pdf download for congenital minamata disease. The neuropathology of minamata disease has been well studied. Minamata disease, or methylmercury poisoning, was first discovered in 1956 around minamata bay, kumamoto prefecture, japan. The radiographic and neuropathological findings parallel. Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning the name corresponds to the name of the minamata bay in kumamoto prefecture where the disease was first identified. Methyl mercury discharged from the factory contaminated fish and shellfish, which in turn caused illness in the local inhabitants who consumed them and birth defects in their children. Microscopic and ultrastructural changes in the nervous system were compared with those of a confirmed case of mercury poisoning from minamata bay, japan, and those from exprimental animals intoxicated with methyl mercury.
Minamata disease was first discovered in minamata city in kumamoto prefecture, japan, in 1956. This disaster, occurring in the vicinity of minamata bay in kumamoto prefecture figure 1, was first. The chapters on the pathology and pathogenesis of the disease and on its clinical manifestations are probably the most complete which have yet been. In the early 1970s, more than 10,000 people died and 100,000 suffered permanent brain damage in. Introduction minamata disease, which is a typical example of the pollutionrelated health damage in japan, was first discovered in 1956, around minamata bay in kumamoto prefecture, and in 1965, in the agano river basin in niigata prefecture. Minamata was established as a village in 1889, redesignated as a town in 1912 and grew into a city in 1949. During 19321968 local residents, especially fisher families have been suffering from a. A congenital form of the disease can also affect fetuses in the womb.
For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription. Mai kanekeo was born to a congenital minamata disease patient. The book includes the reminiscences of a wide range of people affected by the disease, including patients, lawyers and local officials. Disintegration of the granular layer, disappearance of the purkinje cells with bergmanns fiber. Minamata disease, japan kind of risk and problem minamata disease is a form of methyl mercury poisoning caused by eating large quantities of fish and shellfish polluted by methyl mercury in factory wastewater. Minamata disease is alkylmercury poisoning causing hunterrussell syndrome due to ingestion of seafood polluted by industrial waste.
Minamata map illustrating chisso factory effluent routes2. Some scientists, however, did not support this organic mercury theory. Minamata disease causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis. Signs and symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and damage to hearing and speech. Most commonly it results from consumption of methylmercury contaminated seafood and in severe cases is classically manifested by concentric constriction of the visual fields, ataxia and sensory disturbance in the distal extremities. Researchers believe, however, that the criteria the government uses to diagnose minamata disease are too strict, and that anyone showing any level of sensory impairment should be considered a victim. Minamata disease resulted from environmental exposure to methylmercury through contaminated fish and shellfish consumption. Neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. The production of acetaldehyde was no longer performed in japan using mercury as a catalyst. Monitoring for mercury pollution still continues mknamata and around the area.
Unrecognized minamata disease patients to sue government. A form of poisoning, minamata disease is a disease of the central nervous system, caused by the consumption of fish and shellfish contaminated with methyl mercury compounds discharged into the environment as factory waste etc. In minamata bay, a factory discharged inorganic mercury into the water. Lessons from minamata mercury pollution, japan after a. Minamata is situated on the beautiful yatsushiro sea, which is surrounded by the kyushu mainland and several islands. The clinical picture was officially recognized and called minamata disease md in 1956. Minamata disease is a wellknown mercury contamination that happened in japan in 1953. Minamata city in southern kumamoto prefecture gained worldwide fame in the 1950s and 1960s through a mercury poisoning disaster, caused by a local factorys discharge of poisonous wastewater into minamata bay thousands of local inhabitants fell victim to the poisoning, and the disease caused by mercury poisoning became globally known as the minamata disease. Minamatas name came to be widely known to the world because of its pollution. She is quite healthy and here plays in her garden in front of the chisso ch. Pdf minamata disease is a wellknown mercury contamination that happened in japan in 1953. Methylmercury poisoning in the area of minamata bay in japan has become the best known of all the diseases caused by environmental pollution, and this present book is the latest in a rather long line which has kept the disease before the public. Md is one of the most severe types of disease caused by humans to humans in japan. Minamatabyo, sometimes referred to as chissominamata disease, chissominamatabyo, is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning.
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