Minamata Incident.

This event took place due to Methyl mercury poisoning in Minamata bay facing the Shiranui Sea in
Japan. In May 1956 Minamata disease was first officially discovered in Minamata city. During
investigations it was found that Minamata disease occurs by methyl mercury poisoning that occurred
in humans and animals that ingested Fish and shellfish Contaminated by Methyl mercury. The
symptoms included ataxia, numbness in hands and legs, muscle weakness, loss of vision and damage
to hearing and speech. In extreme cases insanity, paralysis, and death followed within weeks of the
onset of symptoms. Later it was found that the discharged waste from a chemical plant which
belonged to the company Chisso Co.Ltd which consisted methyl mercury was released in to
Minamata Bay for a long period of time and the mercury has been bio-accumulated in fishes and
Marine products in Minamata bay area. The people who consumed these fish have exposed to higher
amounts of methyl mercury over time. Later the suspected company has diverted the wastewater
discharge to the Shiranui Sea therefore the people from surrounding villages also started showing
symptoms. Elevated levels of methyl mercury concentrations (0–357 ppm) in the hair samples of
healthy fisherman around the area showed the contamination has spread throughout entire Shiranui
Sea. By 1960- 1962 researchers found that the sludge produced by an acetaldehyde production
process contained methyl mercury; a by –product in acetaldehyde production have been discharged in
to the Bay. After 12 years in 1968, Japanese government officially endorsed the relationship between
waste water from Chisso factory and Minamata disease. More than 100 people have lost their lives
and thousands of people have been affected and still suffering from defects caused by this incident. In
1985 a decontamination project successfully sealed most of the contaminated sediments in the bay
using a concrete barrier and it reduced discharge of methyl mercury to Sea.

Love canal Incident

In 1894 entrepreneur William J Love Started construction of a power canal between upper and lower
Niagara Rivers but the project was failed. The canal was already dug up to 10 feet to a distance of
3000 feet. But in 1942 Hooker chemical company used the site to dump their chemical waste. The
chemical wastes were stored in steel barrels and buried in the canal and covered with several layers of
soil. The barrels were not made by material that could ensure the prevention of leaking of chemicals.
By 1946 some sections of canal were dug up to 30m of depth and buried the chemical wastes and
were only covered with soil. Approximately around 22,000 tons of chemical waste was buried. In
1954 a school was built on the site and by 1958 nearly 100 houses were built around the area. In 1959
there were reports that several children received chemical burns by playing in a road construction site.
By 1960’s complaints received that black sludge was leaking from peoples basements and by 1970’s
people complained about chemical odors in the basements and by then the barrels have started
floating in the landfill. Therefore in 1976 and 1977 the state department of environmental
conservation did a research and declared that a serious health hazard has occurred due to leaking
chemicals. By this time there was number of complaints regarding the problems in pregnancy,
miscarriages and birth defects and illnesses like migraine, epilepsy and asthma It was found that
vapors associated with about 80 compounds; some are known carcinogens have been emitting from
the people’s basements. In 1978 as per the orders of governor love canal task force was made. Their
fundamental tasks were relocated the families of affected area, a construction project to prevent
further leaking of toxic chemical waste and prevent water soaking in to chemical waste disposal area.
Financial and medical aid has been provided to the affected people.
References

1. Kudo, Akira, and Shojiro Miyahara. "A case history; Minamata mercury pollution in Japan–
from loss of human lives to decontamination." Water Science and Technology 23.1-3 (1991):
283-290.
2. Tsuda, Toshihide, et al. "Minamata disease: catastrophic poisoning due to a failed public
health response." Journal of Public Health Policy 30.1 (2009): 54-67.
3. Worthley, John A., and Richard Torkelson. "Managing the toxic waste problem: Lessons
from the love canal." Administration & Society 13.2 (1981): 145-160.

H.M.S.K.Herath

ENS2043