Health Effects of Methylmercury in Coastal Areas of the Yatsushiro Sea, Far from Minamata.

Minamata disease, caused by ingesting seafood contaminated with methylmercury dumped by corporations, was discovered in 1956; however, there has been no continued investigation to determine the full extent of the damage. Since 2004, it has been discovered that affected patients can be found in areas further away from Minamata than previously known. In the present study, we investigated various symptoms and somatosensory disturbances in western Miyanokawachi District, northern Himedo District, southwestern Nagashima District, and the uncontaminated Amami district and calculated the proportion of patients with sensory disturbances as a percentage of the population in each area.

An epidemiological study of the incidence of abnormal pregnancy in areas heavily contaminated with methylmercury.

To determine the relationship between abnormal pregnancy in humans and methylmercury contamination, a retrospective study was conducted on women in two heavily contaminated areas, Modo (area M) and Akasaki (area A). Abnormal pregnancy was defined as fetal death, i.e.