Minamata disease: Methylmercury poisoning and the photography of W Eugene Smith

In the early- to mid-twentieth century, the Chisso Corporation dumped methylmercury into Minamata Bay, Japan. This toxic chemical worked its way up the food chain to large fish, the staple of local residents' diet, resulting in thousands of cases of methylmercury poisoning (Minamata Disease). Chisso was slow to acknowledge its role in the epidemic and to respond to the crisis. The community response to Chisso's actions was also slow, a consequence of corrupt science, pressure from Chisso employees and local fisherman, strong government-business links, and the social stigma associated with Minamata Disease. Chisso company physician Hajimi Hosokawa conducted a deliberately lengthy and poorly-designed study of methylmercury's toxicity, in order to delay recognition of the company's role in the crisis.

Working with his wife, journalist Aileen Smith, photographer W Eugene Smith documented, in a series of poignant photographs, the suffering of victims of Minamata Disease. His photos, exhibited at major museums and published in book form, represent one of the first uses of photography to bring to the world's attention the health consequences of environmental pollution and corporate indifference to human suffering. Unfortunately Smith suffered for his activism, being beaten by Chisso employees, resulting in injuries which hastened his death.

I will describe the history of Minamata Disease, share Smith's photos, and discuss contemporary sources of mercury pollution (regrettably, methylmercury dumping continues today in the Amazon and Yangtze Rivers). I will issue a call to action to decrease mercury pollution and to hold those responsible for such pollution accountable.