The mostviewed item was a 2017 upload by popular youtube channel scishow, which was highly unusual in that it focused. Minamata disease or methyl mercury poisoning from industrial pollution was first described from minamata, japan in the 1950s. Outbreak of minamata disease report of the first patient. This disaster, occurring in the vicinity of minamata bay in kumamoto prefecture figure 1, was first. The number of sufferers of the disease could have been much smaller if the chisso corporation and the japanese government took responsibility sooner and the public would of been alerted of the toxic levels of mercury they were ingesting. The convention is named to recognize the people who suffered the tragedy of mercury contamination in the japanese fishing village of. View minamata disease ppts online, safely and virusfree. A company town of the nippon chisso hiryo company, its main products are chemical fertilizer, carbide, and vinyl chloride. Eugene smith travels back to japan where he documents the devastating effect. Minamata is an upcoming drama film directed by andrew levitas, based on the book minamata by aileen mioko smith and eugene smith and starring johnny depp.
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 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. Minamata disease, disease first identified in 1956 in minamata, japan. A short clip about industrial mercury poisoning at minamata bay, japan. Minamatabyo, sometimes referred to as chissominamata disease, chissominamatabyo, is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning. Mai kanekeo was born to a congenital minamata disease patient. Subsequently, a similar poisoning episode occurred at niigata, japan. 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. A scientist spilled 2 drops organic mercury on her hand. A documentary about the polluting of minamata bay and the illnesses that followed. An analysis of english language youtube videos related to minamata disease.
According to the japanese government, 2,955 people contracted minamata disease and 1,784 people have since died. Minamata disease sometimes referred to as chissominamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Shinobu sakamoto,minamata disease survivor call to. The disease is characterized by peripheral sensory loss, tremors, dysarthria, ataxia, and both hearing and visual loss. Tamashiro h, akagi h, arakaki m, futatsuka m, roht lh. The causes of death in minamata disease were analyzed and compared with those of control subjects.
The minamata disaster and the disease that followed. 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. Foremost among the eco parks attractions is the minamata disease municipal museum, which documents the history of the disease with bilingual display panels, photographs and an easy to understand video presentation contact the information desk for an english version. Minamata was established as a village in 1889, redesignated as a town in 1912 and grew into a city in 1949. Minamata disease medical definition merriamwebster. In minamata bay, a factory discharged inorganic mercury into the water.
During 19321968 local residents, especially fisher families have been suffering from a. In 1956, in minamata city located on the yatsushiro sea coast in kumamoto prefecture, the first minamata disease patient was reported as a patient suffering from neurological symptoms of unknown cause. Due to demand during world war, second mercury disaster occurred in niigata prefecture in 1965. Minamata disease is a wellknown mercury contamination that happened in japan in 1953. Over the years 2,265 people have been officially certified as permanently disabled, of whom 1,784 have died. Minamata disease is an example of organic toxicity. Ontario minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning.
Lessons learned from previous environmental health. Minamata disease is a catastrophic poisoning due to a failed public health response. Identical in symptoms to the original outbreak of minamata disease in kumamoto prefecture, the second outbreak in niigata prefecture was confirmed with the same name in 1965. Shinobu sakamoto,minamata disease survivor call to end mercury poisoning globally. With johnny depp, bill nighy, hiroyuki sanada, tadanobu asano. In chapter 9, fetal minamata disease is examined, and the effects of intrauterine methyl mercury are described. It is on the west coast of kyushu and faces amakusa islands. Minamata disease is recognized as the first evidence of poisoning, which transfers from the. As part of my work with alaska community action on toxics. Eugene smith travels back to japan where he documents the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in coastal communities.
An analysis of englishlanguage youtube videos related to minamata disease. Minamata disease available prior to the 2020 release of the hollywood film minamata. An outbreak of cat dancing disease, in which cats staggered, salivated, convulsed and. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma, and deathfollow within weeks of the onset of symptoms. As she grows older, so the disease slowly progresses. Minamata disease, or methylmercury poisoning, was first discovered in 1956 around minamata bay, kumamoto prefecture, japan. Minamata disease related news japan widens relief for mercury poisoning disaster victims descendents of 1950s mercury poisoning sufferers might be adversely affected, says report. Thus in many ways japan has become the canary in the coal mine for the developed world, as witness minamata disease. Shinobu sakamoto, minamata disease survivor call to end mercury poisoning globally. Shinobu sakamoto,minamata disease survivor call to end mercury poisoning. Topics minamata bay, minamata disease, pollution, environmental disaster, disaster language english. Minamata disease resulted from environmental exposure to methylmercury through contaminated fish and shellfish consumption. Minamata disease the history and measures chapter 2 moe.
If you can read this book, if you can look at the pictures, and not cry, you are not human. Minamata disease is the name given to a neurological syndrome caused by organic mercury intoxication. Minamata, city, kumamoto ken prefecture, southeastern kyushu, japan. Minamata, minamatashi is a city located in kumamoto prefecture, japan. For years, residents of minamata, a town located on kyushu japans most southwesterly island, had observed odd behavior among animals, particularly household cats. The mercury was methylated by bacteria and subsequently ingested by fish. Minamata disease is a neurological problem caused by methyl mercury poisoning.
The disease was caused by severe mercury poisoning, the source of which was methylmercury. I had the opportunity to visit minamata and kumamoto to attend the preparatory meetings for the diplomatic conference, as well as several events organized by the international pops elimination network, a global network of more than 700 organizations from over 116 countries that work on environmental and public health issues. Minamata disease causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis. Treatment and therapies congenital minamata disease. Pdf an analysis of englishlanguage youtube videos related to. The minamata disaster has certainly been the most outstanding example recorded of the effects of industrial irresponsibility and will remain as. Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. A similar epidemic occurred in 1965 along the agano river, niigata prefecture, japan. Minamata disease definition of minamata disease by lexico. It is not well known but it is important to understand in the light of rising environmental threats. 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.
It is situated near the southern end of yatsushiro bay. Video on minamata disease for coh 400 environmental health. In the 1950s, the people of minamata, japan started seeing strange behavior from the local cats, and it wasnt long before humans were. The neuropathology of minamata disease has been well studied. Smith documents the slow poisoning of the people of minamata through methyl mercury, and other compounds.
Toxicity via the food chain has been observed with organic mercury, as in minamata disease. Minamata disease top 10 environmental disasters time. Once the disease is present only therapies to ease the symptoms may be used. Minamata is based on the book by aileen mioko smith and w. It will have its world premiere at the berlin international film festival in february 2020. Outline the history19081955 19561959 finding the causeidentification of mercury 1959 compensationwaste water treatment ten years of silence continued pollution congenital minamata disease mercury poisoning and control response measures against minamata pollution. Minamata was traditionally a fishing port and has regular searoute connections to amakusa island, the main island of the amakusa archipelago. Social and ethical issues congenital minamata disease. The museum also organizes narration sessions for visiting groups to meet disease victims. Measures against minamata disease 1measures against environmental pollution 2 relief of minamata disease patients 3 environmental health measures for inhabitants 4 financial assistance to the responsible company 5 promotion of research and investigation.
Niigata minamata disease, niigata minamatabyo is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. She is quite healthy and here plays in her garden in front of the chisso ch. Minamata disease the history and measures chapter 2 2. A fishing port, minamata was also the home of nippon chisso hiryo co. A disorder caused by methyl mercury poisoning that was first described in the inhabitants of minamata bay, japan and resulted from their eating fish contaminated with mercury industrial waste.
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