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. Minamata disease causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis. 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. Pdf on jan 1, 2018, alexandre semionov and others published. Ontario minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. At the national level, however, the government welcomed. The article summarized findings from a veryearlyphase epidemiological study conducted by researchers from kumamoto. At least 64 cases of it have been reported to date. Minamata was established as a village in 1889, redesignated as a town in 1912 and grew into a city in 1949. Minamata disease is a poisoning disease of central nervous system. All the more because of this dubious history, i chose minamata disease as a case study for discussing. Mercury pollutionnearly 60 years after a chemical plant caused one of the worlds worst episodes of mercury poisoning, the japanese town that came to symbolize the metals threat is still struggling with the aftermath.
This chapter discusses framing by using the minamata disease as a case study. The paper introduces three of the heroes of the movement to gain redress for the victims of minamata disease mercury poisoning caused by contamination of the shiranui sea by the. Minamata are living minamata no ko wa ikiteiru 1965. The neuropathology of minamata disease has been well studied. Minamata convention on mercury international cooperation. Industrial release of mercury into the local minamata environment with consequent poisoning of local communities through contaminated fish and shellfish consumption is considered the classic case of environmental mercury poisoning. Minamata has long been a vivid case study of mercurys dangers.
In july 1959, the minamata disease study team of the faculty of medicine, university of kumamoto. Signs and symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and damage to hearing and speech. Minamata disaster case study ppt december 27, 2018 jarwato disaster minamata disease by prezi user on lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in an ppt minamata disease and the photography of w eugene smith minamata disaster images all msimages minamata disease by prezi user on. New mercury compound spotted in mass poisoning science. In 1957, scientists from kumamoto university, working with dr. It has taken some of these people over thirty years to receive compensation for this inconceivable. Gait disturbance, loss of balance ataxia, speech disturbance dysarthria 2. It is not well known but it is important to understand in the light of rising environmental threats. Semantic scholar extracted view of minamata disease in japan by yasunobu takizawa. A similar epidemic occurred in 1965 along the agano river, niigata prefecture, japan.
In september 1969, almost 12 years after the first case of minamata disease was encountered, the japanese government officially announced that the causative agent of minamata disease was methylmercury, which had been discharged from the abovementioned chemical plants. Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in. The minamata disaster and the disease that followed mercury poisoning that sickened an entire japanese town. Minamata disease is a methylmercury poisoning with neurological symptoms and caused by the daily consump tion of large. The japanese government has certified that 2,264 people have minamata disease. Minamata disease is a toxic encephalopathy characterized by cerebellar atrophy of granulecell type, preferential injury of both calcarine regions and degenerative.
Minamata disease, or methylmercury poisoning, was first discovered in 1956 around minamata bay, kumamoto prefecture, japan. Tragedy of minamata disease and environmental chemical problems today 1. Areas in red show areas typically affected by the presence of methylmercury in the system. Minamata disease victims memorial service as well as work to solve the issues regarding the relief of victims. More than 1 million books in pdf, epub, mobi, tuebl and audiobook formats.
Focal lesions seen in the minamata disease cases have characteristic. The minamata disaster and thetrue costs of japanese. School minamata disease study group hereafter called kumamoto. Lessons from minamata disease and mercury management in japan. Introduction tragedy of minamata disease and environmental. The pathological features and experimental results of minamata disease are summarized. This is a summary of advanced studies of clinical aspects of minamata disease since 1974. The lesions show characteristic signs and symptoms in minamata disease. Ppt minamata powerpoint presentation free to view id. Outline of minamata disease 1 outbreak of minamata disease and its casualties minamata disease is a poisoning disease of central nervous system developed among the inhabitants who. I will describe the history of minamata disease, share smiths photos, and.
C hapter2 the outbreak and origins of minamata disease. This is week of introduction to peace and conflict studies i teach at waseda university, japan. Family cats were observed doing crazy dances before dropping dead. Trade and environment database ted case study minamata disaster. This disease is an unusual neurological disorder resulting from eating a large amount of fish and shellfish of minamata bay in japan. By august 1958, about one and a half years since the first case was reported, almost all. Minamata disease resulted from environmental exposure to methylmercury through contaminated fish and shellfish consumption. Also, the development of environment recovery technology and concurring tremendous investment should be emphasized, as well as notional and. In the next few years, medical researchers at the national university branch in kumamoto, the prefecture in which minamata was located, began studies to identify the disease and find its source. In the meantime, new cases of minamata disease had been discovered in niigata, japan, in 1965 on the main island of honshu tsubaki et al. Decades after mercury pollution ended in the town of minamata, victims still need help. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma, and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms. Thus, it follows that minamata disease is one key factor leading to the origins of environmental studies and sustainability science in japan.
One local physician and a public health official were concerned, and began studies. The class examines minamata disease and its social impact on minamata city, the site where the disease. The metal is toxic on its own, but it becomes far more dangerous when bacteria in natural environments convert it into methylmercury, an organic compound, readily absorbed by living tissues, that can be concentrated and passed up food chains. 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.
Pdf introduction to peace and conflict studies week. Minamata disease was named the cause of death for 1, 408 people. Although this is just a case study of one patient, it shows promise for a future treatment for those affected with chronic mercury poisoning, especially minamata disease. 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. Chapter 6 environmental pollution control measures environmental pollution control measures. This disaster, occurring in the vicinity of minamata bay in kumamoto prefecture figure 1, was first. Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and damage to hearing and speech. It occurred in the canadian province of ontario, in 1970, and severely affected two first nation communities in northwestern ontario following consumption of local fish contaminated with mercury, and one first nation in southern ontario due to illegal disposal of industrial chemical waste.
In the late 1950s, hosokawa tested waste water from chissos pipes on cats, demonstrating to his own great dismay that it produced all the symptoms of minamata disease. I will describe the history of minamata disease, share smiths photos, and discuss contemporary sources of mercury pollution regrettably, methylmercury dumping continues today in the amazon and. Toxics free fulltext health impacts and biomarkers of. Dating from 1987, it draws on fieldwork conducted in minamata, kumamoto prefecture, between 1976 and 1983. Pdf in the early to midtwentieth century, the chisso corporation dumped. Case number one is of special interest because it is the only subject with congenital minamata disease for whom exposure was actually measured near the time of birth. American university, the school of international service. Minamata byo, sometimes referred to as chisso minamata disease, chisso minamata byo, is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning. It is on the west coast of kyushu and faces amakusa islands. The revisit series in this issue introduced the article by kitamura and colleagues.
In the case of minamata disease, however, the initial delay of the introduction of appropriate measures led to a further spread of the damage. Shoji kitamura, born in 1915, was a medical doctor and a professor of department of public health in the medical school at kumamoto university when minamata disease happened. This is the case report of the investigation of the. Study of selective vulnerability within the cerebral cortex.
The specific case of minamata disease will be discussed in detail, looking at questions such. The ethics of representation in light of minamata disease. Minamata disease is an example of organic toxicity. Icett4 the social and economic impact of minamaa disease. However, the case of minamata disease and water pollution control may be an example for those environmental recovery efforts without any preexisting arrangements. Minamata disease is a disease of the central nervous system, a poisoning caused by longterm consumption, in large amounts, of fish and shellfish from minamata bay. Celebrations followed after 110 nations signed the minamata convention at kumamato in japan. The issue over 3,000 victims have been recognized as having minamata disease. Treatment and therapies congenital minamata disease. People with minamata disease have been fulfilling this role in official and unofficial capacities at international conferences for 45 years. The minamata disaster and the disease that followed. Minamata is a small factory town dominated by the chisso corporation. In july 1959, the minamata disease study team of the faculty of medicine. The minamata convention on mercury is an opportunity for the global community to address this mounting problem before it gets worse.
The day of official recognition of minamata disease had come. The companies held responsible continue to pay huge amounts of compensation, while the government also. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. In minamata bay, a factory discharged inorganic mercury into the water. Minamata disease is one of the major health problems caused by industrial pollution during japans high. It is common knowledge that the minamata disease was officially discovered in 1956 and was recognized by the national government in 1968 as a pollution. Even after years from the initial exposure of the patient to mercury, it was still affecting the patient neurologically, meaning the. Methylmercury was eventually acknowledged by governmental authorities in 1968 to be the cause of minamata disease social scientific study group on minamata disease 1999. In the case of minamata disease in niigata prefecture, the following possible reasons for the. In 1992, the city declared the creation of a model environmental city. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary.
Minamata, minamata shi is a city located in kumamoto prefecture, japan. Over the next decades, implementation of this international agreement will help reduce mercury pollution from the specific human activities responsible for the most significant mercury releases to the environment. Minamata disease sometimes referred to as chisso minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Role in framing in sustainability science the case of. However, the mercury species in the factory effluent has proved controversial, originally suggested as inorganic, and more recently as methylmercury species. April 1, 2010 4 the social and economic impact of minamaa disease. In minamata city, major industrial activities except agriculture have been depressed since the official discovery of minamata disease, the growth in the fish catch, commercial sales, and industrial production has become poor compared with those of the entire prefecture. Minamata disease is a neurological problem caused by methyl mercury poisoning. Environmental engineering case study the minamata disease disaster slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising.
Lessons from an earlystage epidemiological study of. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. Comments according to the recent study by hajime nishimura gendai. Minamata disease sometimes referred to as chissominamata disease is a neurological.
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