Fig. 22. Forty six persons died from
mercury poisoning between 1956
and 1958, because they had eaten fish
from Minamata Bay. Since 1952
the Chisso Work had introduced large
quantities of mercury-containing
wastes into Minamata Bay. Points
indicate the homes of victims 19531958. In 1959 there were again
10 cases of mercury poisoning north
of Minamata (location open circles),
after the factory had introduced
wastes into the Minamata River and
some fishermen had caught fish there
in spite of an interdiction (Tokuomi
1969)
The search for the toxic element lasted 3 years. The effluents were found to contain
60 different substances with toxic properties, among them numerous heavy metals.
But at the outset, none could be linked to the Minamata Disease.
The plant itself hindered the investigation and successfully attempted to invalidate
the resulting findings. Not until 1959 was it successfully proven that mercury in an
organic compound was responsible: In 1960 it was proven that the effluents contained
methylmercury. But the Japanese chemical lobby was able to prevent the findings
from becoming official. It is assumed that a total of between 200 and 600 t of mercury were introduced into the Bay of Min am at a by the Chisso Works. The discharging
of effluents was not halted until 1968 (Harada and Smith 1975).
In 1965, the same sickness occurred in the area around Niigata at the mouth of the
Agano River, Japan. Thirty persons became ill; 5 of them died with the symptoms of
Minamata Disease. Effluents containing mercury from the Kanose Works at Showa
Denko, 60 km upstream, had allowed the mercury content to rise in fish used for
human consumption. When by 1968, the Japanese government still had not taken
a decisive stand on the matter, the first pollution suits in Japan's history were filed
against the chemical works. Concerned citizen and protest group activities played
a large role in the following years (W.E. and AM. Smith 1975), until damages were
awarded on March 20, 1973, to the victims of Minarnata.
Up to the year 1975,798 patients were diagnosed as victims of the Minamata Disease.
The Chisso Works paid damages in the amount of U.S. 180 million. An additional
38
mercury poisoning between 1956
and 1958, because they had eaten fish
from Minamata Bay. Since 1952
the Chisso Work had introduced large
quantities of mercury-containing
wastes into Minamata Bay. Points
indicate the homes of victims 19531958. In 1959 there were again
10 cases of mercury poisoning north
of Minamata (location open circles),
after the factory had introduced
wastes into the Minamata River and
some fishermen had caught fish there
in spite of an interdiction (Tokuomi
1969)
The search for the toxic element lasted 3 years. The effluents were found to contain
60 different substances with toxic properties, among them numerous heavy metals.
But at the outset, none could be linked to the Minamata Disease.
The plant itself hindered the investigation and successfully attempted to invalidate
the resulting findings. Not until 1959 was it successfully proven that mercury in an
organic compound was responsible: In 1960 it was proven that the effluents contained
methylmercury. But the Japanese chemical lobby was able to prevent the findings
from becoming official. It is assumed that a total of between 200 and 600 t of mercury were introduced into the Bay of Min am at a by the Chisso Works. The discharging
of effluents was not halted until 1968 (Harada and Smith 1975).
In 1965, the same sickness occurred in the area around Niigata at the mouth of the
Agano River, Japan. Thirty persons became ill; 5 of them died with the symptoms of
Minamata Disease. Effluents containing mercury from the Kanose Works at Showa
Denko, 60 km upstream, had allowed the mercury content to rise in fish used for
human consumption. When by 1968, the Japanese government still had not taken
a decisive stand on the matter, the first pollution suits in Japan's history were filed
against the chemical works. Concerned citizen and protest group activities played
a large role in the following years (W.E. and AM. Smith 1975), until damages were
awarded on March 20, 1973, to the victims of Minarnata.
Up to the year 1975,798 patients were diagnosed as victims of the Minamata Disease.
The Chisso Works paid damages in the amount of U.S. 180 million. An additional
38