Subject – Environmental Studies

Topic – Minamata & Itai Itai disease

Submitted by : Kajal Kataria & Khetanshu Ahlawat

Roll no. : 051&065
BBA.LLB
Acknowledgement
We would like to express our special thanks to our teacher, who gave us the
golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic Minamata disease
and Itai -Itai disease.which also helped us in doing a lot of research and we
came to know about so many new things.
INDEX:
1. Detailed introduction to Minamata disease
2. Detailed introduction to Itai -Itai disease

INTRODUCTION:
MINAMATA DISEASE :
Minamata disease is a poisoning disease of central nervous system developed
among the inhabitants who routinely had large quantities of fishes and
shellfishes in which methylmercury compound had been absorbed directly
through the gills or through the intestinal tracts or been accumulated at high
concentrations by food chains after discharge from chemical plant to the sea and
rivers. In the beginning of the outbreak, however, the disease occurred as a
peculiar nervous disease of unknown cause in the districts along the shore of the
Shiranui Sea (Yatsushiro Sea) centering on the areas around Minamata Bay in
Kumamoto Prefecture. The outbreak was also confirmed later in the reaches of
the Agano River in Niigata Prefecture.

Soon after strange extraordinary events began to appear in the calm fishing
villages in around 1953 at latest; cats went mad, ran around, and went into the
sea, and crows and birds living along the shore of the sea fell to die. Thereafter,
a disease of unknown cause stroke the inhabitants in sequence. Among the
inhabitants who had not ever entertained any apprehension about their health,
some had numbness and trembling of extremities, narrowed visual field, and
hearing disorder. Some people could not speak clearly, stumbled or staggered.
Some could not walk in an ordinary way. Some people had convulsion or
became bedridden. The persons with particularly serious ones of these
symptoms lost consciousness, moved the extremities and the body terribly, cried
by day and night, or scratched off the wall. Then, they died about 1 month after
the onset. Further tragedies occurred; some infants were bone with physical and
mental retardation and severe

With regard to Minamata disease occurring in the areas around Minamata Bay
in Kumamoto Prefecture, the patient was reported for the first time in May
1956, and it was confirmed at the end of the year that 54 patients had had the
disease since December 1953 and that 17 of the patients already died. The
disease became called “Minamata disease” from 1957 onward. With regard to
Minamata disease occurring in the reaches of the Agano River in Niigata
Prefecture, the patient was reported for the first time in May 1965. In July 1965,
it was confirmed that there were 26 patients and that 5 of the patients died.

In 1959, Chisso Corporation was ordered to switch the flow of its waste from
the river back to the bay. In a display of grandeur, the Chisso Corporation also
unveiled a newly installed water purification tank, which lead most people to
believe Minamata Disease was resolved.

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).
ITAI – ITAI DISEASE :

Itai-itai disease was found in the cadmium(Cd) polluted Jinzu River basin in
Toyama Prefecture, and has been generally recognized since the 1950's by the
effort of inhabitants and Dr. Hagino who was a general practitioner with a
private clinic in the polluted area.

Itai-itai disease was officially recognized in 1968 as the first disease induced by
environmental pollution in Japan after legal proceedings. The basis of the court
decision is simply but clearly shown in "The view of the Ministry of Health and
Welfare" which consisted of 7 articles and was announced on 8th May, 1968.
Especially, the basis that concluded the cause of the disease to be Cd pollution
was epidemiological evidence that only cadmium can explain the limited
development of itai-itai disease in a specific area around parts of the Jinzu
River.

Itai-itai disease is considered to be a type of acquired Fanconi Syndrome

characterized by renal tubular dysfunction and osteomalacia and has been found
among middle aged and elderly women with relatively frequent pregnancy,
living in the cadmium polluted area for more than 30 years.

Pathologically, renal damage of itai-itai disease is characterized by atrophic

kidney. The weight of the kidney is usually decreased to around 60g, and to
30g's in cases with non-specific inflammation or atherosclerotic change.

Another specific finding of itai-itai disease is osteomalacia. The remodeling

layer called "Looser zone" . Looser zone is often found in femur, pelvis and
ribs. Osteoporosis is also associated with X-ray findings such as unclear
trabecular pattern and cortial bone thinning noted.Pathologically, increased
osteoid tissue is characteristic of osteomalacia.

Effective treatments involve the use of chelators to promote urinary excretion

of Cd. The cadmium was released into rivers by mining companies in the
mountains, which were successfully sued for the damage. Remediation efforts
in the affected region have been ongoing since 1972 and were mostly complete
as of 2012.