Investigation into Health Impacts of Mercury to Begin Within 2 Years - Kumamoto Minamata | NHK | Kumamoto Prefecture

The issue of the microphone being cut off during a meeting between Minamata disease patients and Environment Minister Ito in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, led to Minister Ito explaining that a survey on the health effects of mercury would be launched within two years at the latest.

During a meeting on August 8th in Minamata City with six organizations, including Minamata disease patient groups, Minister Ito announced that a survey using a nationally developed method would be launched within two years at the latest to objectively evaluate the health effects of mercury. Until now, these groups have been demanding that △ a health survey using the national method be conducted as soon as possible, utilizing past survey results for efficiency, as it takes a long time to test each individual, and △ a questionnaire survey be conducted for all residents of the Shiranui coast, where Minamata disease occurred, to clarify the spread of the damage.

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In response to these demands, Minister Ito only responded, "I would like to comprehensively review the methods proposed by the groups." Participants raised concerns such as, "While the damage is widespread, we question whether a national health survey encompassing the entire Shiranui Sea area will reveal the full extent of the damage," and, "We want a clear indication of when the survey can be completed."

After returning to Tokyo due to official duties, Minister Ito will meet with one organization again in Minamata City on the 10th and visit an island in the Minamata disease outbreak area on the 11th to meet with other organizations.

After meeting with Minamata disease patient groups and other organizations, Minister Ito responded to reporters' questions, stating, "This is not a matter that can be resolved in a single meeting, and I want to carefully consider and make progress." Regarding the groups' claims that they received a "zero response," he said, "I provided several concrete responses, including outlining the timeframe for the health survey."

Yoshihiro Yamashita, acting representative of the "Minamata Disease Victims and Supporters Liaison Council," which consists of organizations related to Minamata disease, said after the August 8th meeting with Minister Ito, "We hope that the content conveyed in the meeting will be reflected in future environmental administration. Once again, I felt that the 3-minute time limit was too short. I believe the Minister also recognized this, so I hope for the future."

While stating that the response to the groups' demands was a "zero response," he also said, "I felt that there might be a slight possibility of change in the future. I hope that today's follow-up meeting will lead to a resolution of the issue."

Following the incident where a Ministry of the Environment official cut off the microphone during a meeting between Minamata disease patients and Minister Ito in May, due to a time limit on the patients' statement, this time, the meeting will be held without a time limit. On August 8th, six organizations will hold a meeting in Minamata City to demand a review of the patient recognition system, an expansion of support that meets their living conditions, and the implementation of a health survey of residents in the Shiranui coastal area where Minamata disease occurred.

Following this, on the 10th, the Minister will meet with the organization to which the man who cut off the microphone belongs in Minamata City, and on the 11th, meetings will be held in Shishijima, Nagashima-cho, Kagoshima Prefecture, and Kosho-urajima, Amakuza City, Kumamoto Prefecture, the areas where Minamata disease occurred. The groups intend to demand a review of support for victims living on the islands.