What natural disaster happened at Minamata Bay?

What natural disaster happened at Minamata Bay?

Mercury-containing industrial waste from the Chisso Corporation’s chemical factory continued to be dumped in Minamata Bay up to 1968. Thousands of people who ingested the mercury by eating local fish and shellfish died, and many more displayed symptoms of mercury poisoning including convulsions and paralysis.

Is Minamata Bay still contaminated?

Four decades after mercury poisoning made Minamata synonymous with environmental disaster, the prefectural government has declared that mercury levels in the fish in Minamata Bay now meet standards for safety.

Is Minamata a true story?

Minamata is a true story about photojournalist W. Eugene Smith’s (Johnny Depp) life altering trip to Japan. It is 1971 and Smith is living as a recluse.

What was pumped into Minamata Bay in Japan?

Between 1932 and 1968, Chisso Corporation, a local petrochemical and plastics maker, dumped an estimated 27 tons of mercury into Minamata bay, poisoning fish and, eventually, the people who ate them.

What caused the Minamata disaster?

Minamata disease was first discovered in the city of Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 1956, hence its name. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from a chemical factory owned by the Chisso Corporation, which continued from 1932 to 1968.

What happened after the Minamata disaster?

As the mercury dumping continued, poisoned women gave birth to poisoned babies. These children were born with severe deformities including gnarled limbs, mental retardation, deafness, and blindness. The fishermen of Minamata began protesting Chisso Corporation in 1959.

Is there still mercury poisoning in Japan?

Minamata disease was first discovered in the city of Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 1956, hence its name….

Is Minamata disease still around 2021?

Once called an “origin of environmental pollution,” Minamata disease was officially confirmed on this day 65 years ago. The film’s message–that “Minamata disease is still not over”–remains as heavy as ever.

Is there a cure for Minamata disease?

However, a fundamental cure for Minamata disease has not yet been found. The main treatments involve the temporary relief of symptoms (symptomatic therapy), and rehabilitation (physiotherapy and occupational therapy).

What metal causes Minamata?

And people who eat seafood suffer from excess methylmercury that causes minamata disease. It was discovered in 1956 in Japan and the symptoms of these disease ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness and the severe adverse event of this disease is a cause of death.

How was Minamata disease resolved?

After several rounds of civil lawsuits, the issue of legal responsibility for Minamata disease was finally resolved about half a century after its discovery in 2004, when the Japanese Supreme Court ruled that the national government and Kumamoto Prefecture were jointly responsible for the cause and spread of Minamata …