HAZARDOUS WASTE CASE:

MINAMATA DISEASE-MERCURY
POISONING 1950s/60s

At the end of the this presentation you

should be able to recognized

What is Minamata Disease?

How does the disease got its name?
Episodes of the disease.
Risk assessment, Risk Management and Risk
communication strategies.
Who identify as vulnerable groups?
How it will be dealt with in Jamaica?

What is Minamata Disease?

A degenerative neurological disorder.

A disease caused by poisoning with a mercury
compound found in seafood.
(free online dictionary)
Question: Have you heard of the Minamata disease
before?

What is Minamata Disease cont.

A methylmercury poisoning with neurological warning

sign.
A disease caused by the intake of hefty amounts of fish
and shellfish that were heavily adulterated with the toxic
chemical crete in chemical industrial unit and then
liquidated into the aquatic.

How the disease got its name?

From the small Village Minamata Bay in Japan.

Where the disease was first discovered.

Episodes of the disease

Fishes started dying after the discharging of chemical

into the sea.
Cats were having unusual behavior and dying.
Pregnant women exposed to the disease babies were
affected.

Episode of the disease cont.

Fishermen and their family were affected having

consumed the most contaminated fish.
Person affected by the disease had symptoms of nervous
condition.
A five year old had convulsions and difficulties in
walking and speaking.

Risk assessment, Risk management and

Risk communication strategies.

Risk Assessment
- High dose exposure
-Exposure assessment
- Hazard identification

Risk Management
(strategies developed)
- research team was
organize
- stronger environmental
protection measures were
gradually introduced in
Japan.

Risk assessment, Risk management and

Risk communication strategies Cont.

Risk Management
(strategies developed)
- Japan became actively
involved in international
cooperation
- Established research
institution.

Risk Communication
strategies
- Citizens, industries
and administrations share
correct information.
- Chemicals Fact Sheets,
dispatches chemical advisors,
holds meetings.

Vulnerable groups

Human
- women
- men
- Fishermen and their family
- Babies
Animals
- Cats
- fish

How it will be dealt with in Jamaica?

Agency ( National environmental planning agency).

Law (section 45 (a) of the National Solid Waste Management
Act ).
Law (section 11 of the Wild Life Protection Act).
Fishermens Cooperative.

Question: What does section 45(a) of the National solid waste

management Act say? And how would it relate to the overall
situation of the Minamata Disease.

References

Eto, Komyo, et at. An Autopsy Case of Minamata

Disease (Methylmercury Poisoning)Pathological viewpoints of Peripheral Nerves.
Toxicologic Pathology 30.6 (2000): 714-722.
Environment Complete. Web.6 June 2015.
Environmental Health University of Minnesta. Web.
13 June 2015.
Mercury Rising. Noelle Eckley Selin. 2005.Web. 9
June 2015.

References Cont.

Lesson learn from Minamata disease and Mercury

Management in Japan Minitry of
Environmental
Japan. Web. 14 June 2015.
Tsuda, Toshihide, et al. Minamata Disease: Catastrphic
Poisoning Due To A Failed Public
Health
Response. Journal of Public Health Policy 30.1 (2009):
54-67. Environment Complete. Web. 6
June 2015.
Legislation Act. Minstry of Justice. Web. 22 June 2015.