Скачать или смотреть Minamata disease; devastating neurological disorder due to severe methylmercury poisoning

Minamata disease is a devastating neurological disorder caused by severe mercury poisoning, specifically from methylmercury. It was first identified in the 1950s in the coastal town of Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, and remains one of the most tragic examples of industrial pollution in history.

🧠 What Causes Minamata Disease?
The Chisso Corporation, a chemical factory in Minamata, discharged methylmercury-laden wastewater into Minamata Bay from 1932 to 1968.

This toxic compound bioaccumulated in fish and shellfish, which were staple foods for the local population.

People who consumed contaminated seafood developed mercury poisoning, leading to widespread illness and death2.

⚠️ Symptoms of Minamata Disease
Neurological Symptoms Other Effects
Ataxia (loss of coordination) Loss of peripheral vision
Numbness in hands and feet Hearing and speech impairment
Muscle weakness In severe cases: paralysis, coma, death
Tremors and convulsions Congenital cases: microcephaly, cerebral damage
👶 Congenital Minamata Disease
Pregnant women exposed to methylmercury gave birth to children with severe birth defects, including:

Mental retardation

Spasticity

Blindness and deafness

Symptoms resembling cerebral palsy2

📜 Historical Impact
The disease was first officially recognized in 1956.

Chisso Corporation dumped an estimated 82 tons of mercury compounds into the bay.

Thousands of people were affected, and many received financial compensation decades later.

A second outbreak occurred in Niigata Prefecture in 1965.

Minamata disease is now considered one of Japan’s Four Big Pollution Diseases.



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