Daniela, minamata disease

Teacher Alexandra Duarte Daniela Lebre

ď‚— Minamata disease , sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata

disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury

poisoning. Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. In extreme cases,

insanity, paralysis, coma, and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms. A congenital form of the disease can also affect fetuses in the womb.

ď‚— Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city

in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan in 1956

Unknown syndrome called Minamata disease

ď‚— In 1956, researchers worked to find the source of the illness,

which they termed Minamata disease. Something was affecting the nervous systems of the people. One thing people in this fishing town had in common was that they all ate fish, so scientists suspected that the fish in Minamata Bay were being

poisoned.

Chisso Corporation source of environmental pollution ď‚— A

large petrochemical plant in Minamata run by Chisso

Corporation

was

immediately

suspect.

Chisso

denied

the

allegations and continued its manufacturing with no changes to the method of production. Finally, in July 1959 researchers from Kumamoto University found that organic mercury was the cause of Minamata disease.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihFkyPv1jtU