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Minamata disease

American  
[min-uh-mah-tuh] / ˌmɪn əˈmɑ tə /

noun

Pathology.
  1. a severe form of mercury poisoning, characterized by neurological degeneration.


Etymology

Origin of Minamata disease

After Minamata Bay, Japan, where fish containing alkyl mercury compounds caused the disease in those who ate them during the period 1953–58

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Japanese scientists visited Grassy Narrows, and in 1975 declared the presence of Minamata disease.

From The Guardian • Oct. 16, 2018

Babies born to mothers who had eaten the tainted fish also developed symptoms, akin to cerebral palsy, of what became known as Minamata disease.

From Slate • Jul. 2, 2015

We have to remember that in Japan a small place like Minamata shattered the whole world by revealing Minamata disease.

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2013

The pollution continued for years after it was discovered, and Minamata disease became an international symbol of environmental damage and corporate corruption.

From Seattle Times • May 9, 2010

By 1953 the mercury contamination had reached a dangerous level in some people, who began to suffer the crippling symptoms of what is now referred to as Minamata disease.

From Time Magazine Archive