1912 Itai-Itai Disease in Japan

1912 Itai-Itai Disease in Japan
Itai-itai disease (イタイイタイ病 , itai-itai byō, "it hurts-it hurts disease") was the name

given to the mass cadmium poisoning of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, starting around 1912. The
term "itai-itai disease" was coined by locals for the severe pains (Japanese: 痛い itai) people
with the condition felt in the spine and joints. Itai-itai disease was found in the Cadmium (Cd)
polluted Jinzu River basin in Toyama Prefecture, and has been generally recognized since the
1950's by the effort of inhabitants and Dr. Hagino who was a general practitioner with a private
clinic in the polluted area.
Itai-itai disease was officially recognized in 1968 as the first disease induced by
environmental pollution in Japan after legal proceedings. The basis of the court decision is
simply but clearly shown in "The view of the Ministry of Health and Welfare" which consisted of
7 articles and was announced on 8th May, 1968. Especially, the basis that concluded the cause
of the disease to be Cd pollution was epidemiological evidence that only cadmium can explain
the limited development of itai-itai disease in a specific area around parts of the Jinzu River.
Itai-itai disease was caused by cadmium poisoning due to mining in Toyama Prefecture.

Regular mining for silver started in 1589, and soon thereafter, mining for lead, copper,
and zinc began. The earliest records of mining for gold in the area date back to 1710. Cadmium
is a metal byproduct of mining that is toxic to most organisms. Recent animal studies have
shown that cadmium poisoning alone is not enough to elicit all of the symptoms of itai-itai
disease.[7] These studies are pointing to damage of the mitochondria of kidney cells by cadmium
as a key factor of the disease.
In the 1920s, levels of contaminated tailing waste increased after the creation of new
froth flotation processes that boosted zinc production. Fine powdered mineral particles formed
in the frothing process escaped and drifted downriver. These particles were subsequently
oxidized into ions that were absorbed by aquatic plants, rice crops, fish, and subsequently,
humans.[6] Sphalerite, the main zinc containing ore in Komioka, is almost always coupled with
greenockite, the only major cadmium containing mineral in the world. Because of this, cadmium
is a regular by-product of the zinc ore mining process. [6] Up until 1948, cadmium was discarded
as waste into the Jinzū River due to it being of no industrial value, exacerbating the levels of the
element’s release into the waterbody.[6]
Prior to World War II, the mining, controlled by the Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.,
increased to satisfy wartime demand. This subsequently increased the pollution of the Jinzū
River and its tributaries. The river was used mainly for irrigation of rice fields, but also for
drinking water, washing, fishing, and other uses by downstream populations.[1]
When the population complained to Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. about this pollution,
the company built a basin to store the mining waste water before leading it into the river. This
proved ineffective, and many had already been sickened. The causes of the poisoning were not
well understood and, up to 1946, it was thought to be simply a regional disease or a type of
bacterial infection.[1]
Cadmium Pollution in Jinzu River
Over time, the cadmium that was released as industrial waste began to accumulate in
the soil, algae and river organisms. This resulted in the local phytoplankton and algal species
absorbing it in high quantities. Cadmium was subsequently passed through the food web to fish
consumers. Fish also bioaccumulated cadmium through passive transport in the gills.
[10]
Cadmium adversely affected fish, causing endocrine disruption and inhibited reproduction,
and sometimes mortality.
Due to the residents being unaware of the cadmium and its dangers, they used the
water from the Jinzū to irrigate their rice fields. Cadmium is highly water soluble and the rice
paddy’s prolonged exposure led to the rice strains quickly becoming contaminated and toxic.
The local resident’s consumption of these strains of rice and drinking water then resulted in
elevated cadmium body burdens – leading directly to symptoms characteristic of Itai-Itai
disease. Cadmium is now considered one of the most dangerous toxic metal due to its ability to
threaten food safety through being easily be absorbed into the rice paddies, then subsequently
the rice.
Remediation Process
Continuous inspections following the lawsuit have documented considerable decreases in
cadmium levels. Total amounts of cadmium discarded decreased from 35 kg per month in 1972 to
3.8 kg per month in 2010; the average concentration of cadmium in the mine’s discharge had been
reduced to 1.2 ppb in 2010 from 9 ppb in 1972; and in response to improved dust collection
methods, the total amount of cadmium discharged in smoke dropped from >5 kg per month in 1972
to 0.17 kg per month in 2010. In 1996, the mean concentration of cadmium in agricultural lands had
returned to the background level of 0.1 ppb, signifying trivial cadmium outflow. This is a success in
regards to the lawsuit.
The cadmium pollution had also contaminated many of the agricultural areas surrounding the
mine. As a response to the metal pollution, the Japanese government enacted the Prevention of Soil
Contamination in Agricultural Land Law of 1970. It ordered planting to be stopped so that restoration
of the soil could be implemented to areas with 1ppm of cadmium or more in the soil. Surveying in
Toyama Prefecture began in 1971, and by 1977, 1500 hectares along the Jinzū River were
designated for soil restoration. These farmers were compensated for lost crops and for lost
production in past years by the Mitsui Mining and Smelting, Toyama Prefecture, and the national
government. As of 1992, only 400 hectares remained contaminated. In 1992, the average annual
health expense compensation was ¥743 million. Agricultural damage was compensated with ¥1.75
billion per year, or a total of annually ¥2.518 billion. Another ¥620 million were invested annually to
reduce further pollution of the river.
On 17 March 2012, officials concluded the cleanup project of the cadmium-polluted areas in
the Jinzū River basin. Eight-hundred and sixty-three hectares of topsoil had been replaced since the
cleanup began in 1979 at a total cost of ¥40.7 billion. The project had been financed by the
Japanese national government, Mitsui Mining, and the Gifu and Toyama prefectural governments.

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1912 Itai-Itai Disease in Japan

Itai-itai disease (イタイイタイ病 , itai-itai byō, "it hurts-it hurts disease") was the name

Itai-itai disease was caused by cadmium poisoning due to mining in Toyama Prefecture.

Cadmium Pollution in Jinzu River

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