Hi,

Minamata disease is caused by mercury poisoning. It occurred in Japan in 1952 to 1960.

In 1952, a company involved in making plastic products dumped its waste water into the Minamata River. Buy the time they were stopped in 1966, 400 tons of mercury was was dumped.

Minamata disease caused nerve problem and involuntary nervous twitches and loss of balance when walking. Severe birth defects was seen in children born to mothers who consumed tainted fish and other seafood from the region. Even small amounts bio-non degradable substances get concentrated into lethal concentrations due to bioaccumulation.



Cheers

Heavy metal poisoning, Minamata disaster

Hi,

Watch this disturbing video of what happened in Japan in the 1950s and 1960s at Minamata Bay area. Students, this topic is found in your syllabus on water pollution and bioaccumulation.






Mercury compounds in organic forms are very poisonous to the body. It was first noticed in the pet cats in the village. It was initially called the "Cats Dance Disease". Mercury compounds accumulates in cells causing central nervous system disorders, epilepsy-like symptoms and loss of sense of balance in man. In the 1960's children were born in the Minamata area with congenital brain damage and severe physical disabilities. Finally it was traced to the contamination of fish and other sea-foods with organic mercury compounds.

To listen to some songs on the environment by Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil, click on the link below;

http://asal-sakti.blogspot.com/search/label/Peter%20Garrett


Cheers