FOUR BIG POLLUTION DISEASES OF JAPAN

The were manmade ailments all caused by environmental pollution due to improper handling of industrial wastes by Japanese corporations. Although some cases of these diseases occurred as early as 1912, most occurred in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

Name of disease	Cause	Blame	Year
Minamata disease	mercury poisoning	Chisso's chemical factory	1932 - 1968
Niigata Minamata disease	mercury poisoning	Shōwa Electrical Works	1965
Yokkaichi Asthma	sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide	air pollution in Yokkaichi	1961
Itai-itai disease	cadmium poisoning	mining in Toyama Prefecture	1912

Due to lawsuits, publicity, and other actions against the corporations responsible for the pollution, as well as the creation of the Environmental Agency in 1971, increased public awareness, and changes in the practices of the responsible companies, the incidence of these diseases declined after the 1970s.