Minimata Disease

 In 1908 the Chisso factory was opened in Minimata Japan, the factory produced mainly fertilizers. It was one of the most advanced factories in all of Japan at the time. In 1932 the factory started producing acetaldehyde, producing 510 tons that year, in 1951 6,000 tons, 50% of Japans total output. Little did the people know that the factory was draining all its contaminated waste water in the Minimata Bay, poising the water and fish. The town of Minimata relied heavily on fish, but the fish were contaminated with mercury. The people ate the fish not knowing that the fish contained heavy amounts of mercury, causing severe nervous damage, uncontrollable muscle movements and death, Researchers were shocked at how much mercury was found in the fish, the government later banned fishing in the bay. On October 21, 1959 The Chisso plant was ordered to install a water purification and on December 19 a special ceremony was held, the President of the Chisso plant drank a glass of water that was supposedly "clean" but in fact it was still heavily contaminated. as of 2001 over 2, 265 people have been effected, 1, 784 of them had died.