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Minamata Mercury Poisoning

In the late 1950s thousands of people in the far south west of Japan were poisoned by industrial waste. A factory was pumping heavy metals into a river which led to the sea.

In the late 1950s thousands of people in the far south west of Japan were poisoned by industrial waste. A factory was pumping heavy metals into a river which led to the sea. Locals who ate fish and seafood from the surrounding area suffered all sorts of disabilities as a result.

Fujie Sakamoto lost one daughter to what was being called 'Minamata disease', her second daughter was born severely disabled.

Photo: Fujie Sakamoto today.

9 minutes

Last on

Wed 11 Feb 2015 08:50GMT

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  • Wed 11 Feb 2015 08:50GMT

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