Minamata disease was caused by mercury poisoning from industrial wastewater dumped into Minamata Bay from 1956-1968. Over 900 people died and thousands suffered from neurological symptoms like numbness, weakness, and loss of coordination. The disease drew attention to environmental pollution issues in Japan. After the victims were recognized, Minamata City took measures like environmental education, promoting sustainable practices, and honoring those affected to prevent future disasters and rebuild their community.

1. A
Case Study
On
Presented By:
Ritu Chauhan
Ph.D. Environmental Sciences
Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences, Amity University, Noida
Campus, UP, India
Minamata Disease

2. Minamata Disease
Minamata’s name came to be widely known to the world because of its pollution. It
is common knowledge that the Minamata Disease was officially discovered in 1956
and was recognized by the national government in 1968 as a pollution disease.
Minamata is located on the Western coast of Kyushu, Japan's southernmost island

3. Causes of Minamata disease
Minamata disease is a poisoning disease that affects mainly the central nervous
system and is caused by the consumption of large quantities of fish and
shellfish living in Minamata Bay and its surroundings, the major causative agent
being some sort of organic mercury compound. Mercury, is changed to water
soluble dimethyl, mercury, which undergoes biomagnification.

4. The symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet,
general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision, and
damage to hearing and speech. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis,
coma, and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms.
Symptoms of Minamata Disease

5. What happened in Minamata Bay?
Minamata Bay was heavily polluted in
the 1950s and 1960s by wastewater,
mixed with mercury dumped into
Hyakken Harbour from the Chisso
Corporation's factory in Minamata,
particularly by methylmercury. ... The
poisoning of Minamata Bay had a large
impact on Japanese culture as well.
A poisoning caused by long-term
consumption, in large amounts, of fish
and shellfish from Minamata Bay.
How many people died of
Minamata disease?
In all, 900 people died and
2,265 people were certified as having
directly suffered from mercury
poisoning - now known as Minamata
disease.

6. Measures Taken
Minamata Victims Memorial Service
 In 1994, patients, supporters, citizens and
the administration began to work together.
At the Minamata Victims Memorial Service
held on May 1.
 The mayor expressed his regret, or apologized, for the first time on behalf of the
administration, that it had not taken enough measures.
 “Creation of a Model Environmental City” movement became full-scale, making the most
of the sacrifices made to the Minamata Disease to reconstruct the inner society and to
regenerate the local community and Minamata City.

7. Measures Taken
 “Minamata City Comprehensive Plan” and “Minamata Primary Projects for the
Environment”
 The Minamata Primary Projects for the Environment was developed simultaneously with the
Comprehensive Plan. The drafting of a Plan is often commissioned to consultants, but Minamata City
declared that its Plans would be made by its staff and citizens. In the two years following 1994, two
open assemblies were held in all districts for direct dialogue with local resident and citizens who
were appointed based on their application essays continuously met once every week for six months.
This resulting in a proposal made solely by the citizens.
 Young staff at City Hall developed a project and presented their opinions. These were collaborated
into Minamata City’s Comprehensive Plan and Minamata Primary Projects for the Environment.
Minamata City has given these plans Local Agenda 21 status and has positioned them as measures
that are to be implemented under the collaboration of the administration, citizens and businesses.

8. Measures Taken
 Individual Measures 2. Waste Reduction
 Because waste cannot be reduced just by division, the “Waste Reduction Women’s Liaison
Conference” was established in 1997.
 The group is actively involved in such activities as appealing to citizens “not to bring waste
into the household, to prolong the life of each product and to purchase reused or recycled
goods.” They have negotiated with supermarkets to abolish excessive packaging through a
“Food Tray Ban Agreement.”
 They have worked with Minamata City in acknowledging cooperative stores as
environment friendly stores in a “Eco Shop Program.

9. Other Measures
Educational Tours
Environmental Master Program
Minamata Prize for the Environment
Accreditation : Minamata City received ISO14001 accreditation
an international standard for environmental management

10. CONCLUSION
 In conclusion, we detain that all conventions and principles that
we have mentioned before have not been established regulated
at the time when Minamata disease occurred.
 However, if such principles and convention existed at that time,
not only Chisso Company, but Japan as the state where the
Minamata disease occurred shall be likely to the impacts and
losses arisen from that tragedy.
 First of all, the Chisso Company has the absolute liability to the
disease arisen because of their waste disposal that causing severe
sickness and harm to the people.
 Secondly, Japan as the country where the company stood at, shall
stipulated about the guidelines and the importance of
Environmental Impact Assessment for every company or
corporation that intended to involving hazardous materials and
waste within their business.

11. Thank You