Minamata disease
Industrial mercury syndrome
Minamata disease is a severe neurological syndrome caused by mercury poisoning, named for the Japanese city where it was first identified in the 1950s.
Industrial wastewater containing methylmercury contaminated the local fishing waters, poisoning residents who ate the seafood.
Symptoms include numbness, vision and hearing loss, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, paralysis, coma, and death.
The term now applies to any methylmercury poisoning with similar symptoms.
Liquid metallic element
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- industrial wasteByproducts from manufacturing processes
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
biomagnification · effluent · waterway · fish contamination · shellfish · food chain · heavy metals · sediment
Neurotoxic organometallic compound
- poisoningHarmful substance exposure
- neuropathyDamage to peripheral nerves
- paresthesiaAbnormal skin sensation
- ataxiaImpaired voluntary movement control
tremors · sensory loss · muscle weakness · vision impairment · hearing loss · dysarthria · cerebellum · encephalopathy
East Asian archipelago nation
- KumamotoPrefecture on Kyushu
- 1956Mid-fifties calendar year
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
victims · compensation · protests · lawsuit · recognition · environmental justice
mercury
Liquid metallic element
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- industrial wasteByproducts from manufacturing processes
bioaccumulation · biomagnification · effluent · waterway · fish contamination · shellfish · food chain · heavy metals · sediment · wastewater
methylmercury
Neurotoxic organometallic compound
- poisoningHarmful substance exposure
- neuropathyDamage to peripheral nerves
- paresthesiaAbnormal skin sensation
ataxia · tremors · sensory loss · muscle weakness · vision impairment · hearing loss · dysarthria · cerebellum · encephalopathy · numbness
Japan
East Asian archipelago nation
cover-up · victims · compensation · protests · lawsuit · recognition · environmental justice
- mercury pollutionmercury poisoning, mercury exposure, mercury vapor, methylmercury, mercury contamination
- toxic metalsarsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead poisoning
- mercury poisoningmethylmercury, fish contamination, dental amalgam, thimerosal, gold mining
- Metal Poisoninglead poisoning, mercury poisoning, arsenic poisoning, heavy metal poisoning, heavy metals
Minamata diseaseinfectious disease
Pathogen-caused transmissible ailment
communicable disease · viral infection · bacterial infection · genetic disorder · hereditary disease
Minamata diseaseneurological health
Nervous system wellbeing
perfect health · full health · wellness · clean bill of health · good health
Minamata diseaseindustrial safety
Worker protection measures
pollution prevention · environmental justice · corporate accountability