Environmental Disaster

Question 0

Minimata disease

Answer 0

• Japan
• 1950s-1960s
• mercury exposure (methyl mercury -organic mercury)
• prenatal exposure:
  
  • babies were born with cerebral palsy-like syndrome
  • microencephaly, mental retardation, seizures

Question 1

Itai-Itai

Answer 1

• Japan
• starting around 1913
• the cadmium was released into river by mining companies in the mountains
• cadmium poisoning caused softening of bone and kidney failure