The diseases were first identified in the city of Minamata, Japan in 1956 which is Kumamoto Prefecture in the island of Kyushu and next it was at Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Minamata diseases are a neurological syndrome that results from pollution and environmental contamination.
Types of ecosystems: Mercury contamination occurs through aquatic ecosystems in this case of Minamata Japan. Inorganic waste, like mercury, includes poisonous and some types of pesticides. The poisonous are metals that dumped into rivers are extremely harmful to humans. The toxicity of mercury depends on its chemical form. The methylmercury is the most toxic form. It effects on the immune system, damages the nervous system, including coordination and the sense of touch, taste, and sight. Mercury poisoning is also a health risk for pregnant women, it affects the unborn child …show more content…
These people have to had to live with the physical and emotional pain due to a result of the negligent action of Chisso Corporation.
Ecosystems destroyed: the highly toxic chemical bioaccumulated in aquatic food especially reaching high-level concentration in shellfish and fish. The research reported that harmful level of pollution spread lasted until 1970, 10 years longer than the government estimated. The poisoning seafood continues contaminated others through the food chain. For instance: Birds that eat fish got contaminated and after predators that hunted on these birds also got poisoned. The pollution was not dispersed in the wide area, moreover, contaminated seafood flow within the bay and this made risk others residents who got intake from seafood too.
Short-term effect: the poisoning effect of severe exposure of methylmercury people get atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertension