US EPA

3786656 

Book/Book Chapter 

Minamata disease in retrospect 

Takizawa, Y 

2000 

GLOBAL WARMING INTERNATIONAL CENTER MONOGRAPH SERIES 

211-223 

WOS:000185752400001 

Minamata disease has been defined as "a poisoning disorder of the central nervous system, arising from intake of fish and shellfish containing methylmercury from an industry." The outbreak was first discovered in 1956 around Minamata Bay. In 1965, a further outbreak occurred along the Agano River. Minamata disease has been attracting international attention not only because of its unusual outbreak pattern, but also because of the problem of the suitability of diagnostic guidelines to determine whether or not a person actually has the disease. From the first outbreak, local governments provided relief for medical expenses of the patients. In 1974, the pollution-related Health Damage Compensation Law was enacted. Through this law, 2,952 persons have been certified as Minamata disease patients, as of March, 1997. But numerous applicants who were denied certification have filed various suits against the Prefectural or National Government. The Japanese Government submitted a solution for the problem of Minamata disease in Kumamoto in July, 1975. In the long-ongoing dispute concerning Minamata disease, patients and their supporters accepted the settlement plan in December, 1995. The Minamata disease legal issues were finally resolved, 40 years after the first outbreak. 

Minamata disease; 40-year history; diagnostic guideline; compensation to patients; integrated relief of the victims