Minamata Disease: Mercury Poisoning

MINAMATA DISEASE
MERCURY POISONING
Prsented by:
Devraj Regmi
Kushal Shrestha
Gautham Satyaprem
Rakhi Jha
Introduction
 Minamata is a city located in Kumamoto
Prefecture, Japan.
 Minamata disease is a neurological disorder

caused by severe mercury poisoning, and was
discovered in 1956 in Minamata.
 Minamata disease is sometimes also called as

Chisso-Minamata disease
Chisso company
 Chisso began as a hydroelectric power company in 1908.
 It built a carbide factory which used this electricity, and before long began
producing chemical fertilizers, becoming one of Japan’s major chemical com
panies.
 As Chisso grew, so did Minamata.
 Its population increased, and Minamata became one of the leading industrial
cities in Kumamoto prefecture.
 In addition to chemical fertilizers, Chisso produced acetic acid, vinyl chloride,
and the plasticizers that were necessary in their production.
 Chisso became one of the companies that made Japan’s rapid post-war
economic growth possible
Continued…..
 Beginning in the Taisho period (1912-1926), pollution of the ocean by the waste
water from the Chisso factory occasionally became a problem.
• However, from 1932 to 1968 the company continued to use inorganic mercury
as a catalyst in producing acetaldehyde, which was used to produce acetic acid ,
vinyl chloride. acetylene, and octanol, among others
 Methyl mercury, a by-product of the production process, was discharged
virtually untreated into the sea until 1966.
 Even after Chisso knew its factory wastewater was the cause of Minamata
disease, it did not suspend operations.
 In the decision in the first Minamata disease trial, such corporate negligence and
immorality was severely criticized.
Disease History
• Officially discovered in 1956, and in 1968 the national government announced
that it was a pollution disease caused by the Chisso Co., Ltd. No fundamental
cure for Minamata disease has yet been discovered.
• Treatment consists of attempts to lessen the symptoms and physical
rehabilitation therapy.
• In addition to the physical damage, there is also social harm, such as
discrimination due to Minamata disease.
• Which are unable to be easily relieved, to natural environments, human
relations, and economical activities in the districts, as well as the daily lives of
the patients and family members.
• Over 17,000 people from Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures have applied
for certification as Minamata disease victims.
• Of these 2,264 (of whom 1,408 have passed away) were certified by the
government.
• In addition, 10,353 people have been declared eligible for lump sum payments
from Chisso, based on the national government’s 1995 settlement plan to aid
uncertified patients.
• Therefore 12,617 people have been officially recognized as patients affected by
mercury.
• In addition to the Minamata disease caused by Chisso, in 1964 Minamata
disease also broke out along the Agano River in Niigata prefecture, where the
Showa Denko Corporation used the same production process.
Forms of mercury
• Elemental mercury, also known as liquid mercury or quicksilver-
thermometers, dental amalgams, fluorescent light bulbs, some electrical
switches, mining, and some industrial processes.
• Inorganic mercury salts-cosmetic skin creams
• Organic mercury-methyl-mercury, Thimerosal and phenyl-mercuric
acetate
Pathophysiology
•Methyl mercury in water in sewage
•Accumulated in the seafood by food chain

•Oral intake
•Distributed widely and accumulated in various organs and tissues.
•Destruction of the brain cortex by

1. Affecting neuron, epithelial cells and parenchymatous cells.
2. Intracranial disturbance of the blood circulation
3. Edema(large fluid volume and swelling) of the peri-vascular space,
particularly in the water-shed regions of the brain cortex.
•Greater influence in acute and sub-acute severe cases.

Involuntary muscle movements, Here we see an image of an outwardly healthy mother bathing her fetal-poisoned 16
Difficult in chewing and swallowing year old daughter, Tomoko Uemura, physically crippled since birth due to
environmental industrial mercury poisoning in the local Minamata, Japan, water
supply.
Complication-blindness ,
deafness, heart attack
rate
numbness and unsteadiness in the legs and hands, tiredness, ringing in the ears, narrowing of the field of
vision, loss of hearing, slurred speech
Sign and symptoms of mercury poisoning
Elemental and Vaporized Organic Mercury (methy lmercury)
Mercury Poisoning Poisoning Symptoms
 mood swings, nervousness,  peripheral vision impairment,

irritability, and other emotional  stinging or needle-like sensations in
changes, the extremities and mouth,
 insomnia  loss of coordination,
 headache  muscle weakness, and
 abnormal sensations,  other impairments of speech
 muscle twitching, and hearing
 tremors
 weakness, Inorganic mercury
 muscle atrophy, and  Bloody diarrhea
 decreased cognitive functions.  dermatitis
Treatment of Minamata disease
Treatments at the early stage
• Detection of the route of methy-lmercury exposure and its exclusion
• Promotion of methylmercury excretion
a) Administration of chelating agents: Chemical trapping of methyl-mercury and excretion via urine
b) Administration of SH-compounds having high affinity for methylmercury: oral administration of
thiol resin in order to inhibit re-absorption of methylmercury from intestines.
c) Hemodialysis with L-cysteine
d) Blood exchange
• Administration of antioxidants
• Treatment of symptoms
Treatments at the chronic stages
 Rehabilitation
Physical therapy and occupational therapy are conducted
in order to improve or maintain physical functions.
 Treatment of symptoms
Drug therapy to reduce symptoms, e.g., muscle cramps,
involuntary movement, abnormal muscle tonus
Prevention mercury poisoning
• Avoiding any foods contaminated with methylmercury will prevent

poisoning. Because of manufacturing, mercury has become so common
in the environment that trace amounts of methylmercury are present in
many foods from the ocean, including deep-sea tuna. Fortunately, the
levels are low enough that most of these foods remain safe.
• Avoid contact with industrial products that contain mercury. Contact
poison control if you believe you may have been exposed.
• Proper disposal of Fluorescent Lamp, Amalgam ,…..
• Regular inspection of the quality of sea food.
References:
1. http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/minamata-disease/
2. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/80/mercury
3. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/mercury_poisoning/page3
_em.htm
4. www.nimd.go.jp/archives/english/tenji/b_corner/b03.html
Thank you!!!

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MINAMATA DISEASE

 Minamata disease is a neurological disorder

 Minamata disease is sometimes also called as

•Accumulated in the seafood by food chain

•Destruction of the brain cortex by

•Greater influence in acute and sub-acute severe cases.

 mood swings, nervousness,  peripheral vision impairment,

• Avoiding any foods contaminated with methylmercury will prevent

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