Seventy years have passed since the official confirmation of Minamata disease, but victims and advocates say a final resolution remains out of reach.
¡°Even after 70 years, Minamata disease has not ended. Have the Environment Ministry and Kumamoto Prefectural Government ever considered why that might be the case?¡± said Yoshihiro Yamashita, 85, head of a victims¡¯ and supporters¡¯ liaison group.
Minamata disease is the name given to the severe neurological disorder caused by methylmercury discharged from a factory operated by chemical firm Chisso. Residents living in the area consumed seafood that had accumulated methylmercury traced to wastewater discharged by the factory.
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