Minamata was established as a village in 1889, redesignated as a town in 1912 and grew into a city in 1949. It is not a contagious disease transmitted through air or food, and it is not inherited. A fishing port, minamata was also the home of nippon chisso hiryo co. 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. Due to demand during world war, second mercury disaster occurred in niigata prefecture in 1965. She is quite healthy and here plays in her garden in front of the chisso ch. A congenital form of the disease can also affect fetuses in the womb. In minamata bay, a factory discharged inorganic mercury into the water. Minamata disease is a wellknown mercury contamination that happened in japan in 1953. The radiographic and neuropathological findings parallel. A second epidemic in japan occurred in 1965 along the agano river, niigata prefecture. Minamata disease, the existence of which was officially acknowledged by the government in 1956, is a. The pathological features and experimental results of minamata disease are summarized.
Minamata disease, or methylmercury poisoning, was first discovered in 1956 around minamata bay, kumamoto prefecture, japan. Methylmercury poisoning in japan caused by environmental pollution. This disease is an unusual neurological disorder resulting from eating a large amount of fish and shellfish of minamata bay in japan. Deadly disease that ruined the lives of thousands of japanese people an environmental disaster, minamata disease, is a syndrome that ruined thousands of lives in japan. 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. Minamata disease was officially discovered in 1956 in minamata, japan. Neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning.
Two epidemics occurred in minamata 1956 and niigata 1965, japan. A similar epidemic occurred in 1965 along the agano river, niigata prefecture, japan. National research institute of aquaculture, i visited the minamata disease. 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. Md is one of the most severe types of disease caused by humans to humans in japan. During 19321968 local residents, especially fisher families have been suffering from a. 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. 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 production of acetaldehyde was no longer performed in japan using mercury as a catalyst. 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. The chapters on the pathology and pathogenesis of the disease and on its clinical manifestations are probably the most complete which have yet been.
Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in japan ministry of the environment, japan 2011. A short introduction to the topic of minamata disease used in a recent awareness workshop. Minamata disease was first discovered in minamata city in kumamoto, japan, in. Some scientists, however, did not support this organic mercury theory. Minamata is situated on the beautiful yatsushiro sea, which is surrounded by the kyushu mainland and several islands. According to the japanese government, 2,955 people contracted minamata disease and 1,784 people have since died. Minamata in kumamoto prefecture has long been known mainly for a deadly.
The pathology of methylmercury poisoning minamata disease. A documentary about the polluting of minamata bay and the illnesses that followed. 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. Mai kanekeo was born to a congenital minamata disease patient. Noriyuki hachiya phd, minamata disease archives, 5510 mojincho, minamata, kumamoto 8670055, japan tel. The neuropathology of minamata disease has been well studied. The clinical picture was officially recognized and called minamata disease md in 1956. One of the most visible tragedies by industrial water pollution is minamata disease, methylmercury poisoning caused by eating contaminated fish, which has. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Minamatas name came to be widely known to the world because of its pollution. The minamata disaster and the disease that followed. It is common knowledge that the minamata disease was officially.
Minamata disease is alkylmercury poisoning causing hunterrussell syndrome due to ingestion of seafood polluted by industrial waste. Minamata disease is an example of organic toxicity. Many infants with cerebral palsy in villages where adult cases occurred were established as having congenital minamata disease. Court orders damages paid to japan poisoning victims. 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. The document describes japans experiences and lessons learned as well as measures and initiatives which have been implemented to reduce the risks posed by mercury.
Article information, pdf download for congenital minamata disease. Minamata disease is a methylmercury poisoning with neurological symptoms and caused by the daily. Minamata, minamatashi is a city located in kumamoto prefecture, japan. This disaster, occurring in the vicinity of minamata bay in kumamoto prefecture figure 1, was first. 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 causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis. Minamata disease is the name given to a neurological syndrome caused by organic mercury intoxication. A case of suspected mercury poisoning minamata disease was studied. More than 1 million books in pdf, epub, mobi, tuebl and audiobook formats.
Minamata disease resulted from environmental exposure to methylmercury through contaminated fish and shellfish consumption. Minamata disease was first discovered in minamata city in kumamoto prefecture, japan, in 1956. Minamata disease, disease first identified in 1956 in minamata, japan. Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in. 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. Minamata in kumamoto prefecture has long been known mainly for a.
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. However, 50 years later there are still arguments about the definition of md in terms of clinical symptoms and extent of lesions. Dancer aims to reinvent minamata, long known for disease caused by pollution, into a city of samba. 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. Minamata disease or methyl mercury poisoning from industrial pollution was first described from minamata, japan in the 1950s. Monitoring for mercury pollution still continues mknamata and around the area. Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in japan.
Topics minamata bay, minamata disease, pollution, environmental disaster, disaster language english. Unrecognized minamata disease patients to sue government. In the early 1970s, more than 10,000 people died and 100,000 suffered permanent brain damage in. 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. Minamata byo, sometimes referred to as chisso minamata disease, chisso minamata byo, is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning.
As she grows older, so the disease slowly progresses. C hapter2 the outbreak and origins of minamata disease. Disintegration of the granular layer, disappearance of the purkinje cells with bergmanns fiber. Minamata disease by those who lived it the japan times. Minamata disease is a toxic encephalopathy characterized by cerebellar atrophy of granulecell type, preferential injury of both calcarine regions and degenerative. 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. The marine products in minamata bay displayed high levels of hg contamination. During 19321968 local residents, especially fisher families have been suffering from a variety of symptoms. 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 disease methylmercury poisoning was first discovered in 1956 around minamata bay, kumamoto prefecture, japan. Minamata map illustrating chisso factory effluent routes2.
The book includes the reminiscences of a wide range of people affected by the disease, including patients, lawyers and local officials. Minamata diseases minamata disease japan kind of risk. Signs and symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and damage to hearing and speech. Mpm as an acronym, japan, who ate local fish and shellfish contaminated with. Pdf minamata disease is a wellknown mercury contamination that happened in japan in 1953. 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. It is on the west coast of kyushu and faces amakusa islands. For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription. 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.
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