Minamata Disease

About Minamata Disease

Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning, first identified in 1956 in Minamata, Japan. The Chisso Corporation had been discharging methylmercury containing wastewater into Minamata Bay from 1932 to 1968. The mercury bioaccumulated in fish and shellfish, which were consumed by local residents. Symptoms included ataxia, numbness, muscle weakness, tunnel vision, hearing loss, and in severe cases, coma and death. Children exposed in utero suffered severe developmental disabilities. As of 2001, 2,265 victims had been officially certified, of whom 1,784 had died, though many more people are believed to have been affected. The Chisso Corporation initially denied responsibility and continued discharging. The legal battle lasted decades. The Minamata Convention on Mercury, adopted in 2013, was named after the tragedy and aims to eliminate mercury pollution globally. Minamata disease became a symbol of industrial pollution and corporate negligence. The photographic documentation by W Eugene Smith brought international attention to the disaster.