Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification: Minamata Disease History of Minamata Disease. In 1908 the Chisso Corporation, a major chemical manufacturer in Japan, opened a nitrogenous fertilizer factory in the small fishing town of Minamata (figure 1). Over time the corporation chose to branch out and began producing other chemicals such as acetylene, acetic acid, vinyl chloride and octanol. The waste product from these chemicals was released into Minamata Bay via the factories wastewater system, causing major damage to the fisheries; reducing their catch sizes by up to 91%. In 1932 the Chisso Corporation began manufacturing a chemical known as acetaldehyde (C2H4O), also known as ethanal. By 1951 production of C2H4O had jumped from 210 pounds produced in the first year of manufacturing to 6,000 tons per year. Although the large quantities of production were good for the Chisso Corporation, the effects of chemical production were beginning to effect the ecosystem and the organisms within. The reaction used to make C2H4O requires mercury sulfate (HgSO4) as a catalyst and in 1951 Chisso changed the co-catalyst from manganese dioxide (MnO2) to ferric sulfide (FeS2). When mercury sulfate and ferric sulfide react, small amounts of a highly toxic, organic mercury compound known as methylmercury (CH3Hg+ or MeHg+) is produced as a by-product (figure 2) As previously mentioned, Chisso was releasing their waste through the wastewater and into Minamata Bay; among this waste was the methylmercury produced in the manufacturing of C2H4O. On the 21st April, 1956, a five-year-old girl was admitted to the Shin Nippon Chisso Fertilizer Co. factory hospital with severe complaints including the inability to talk, walk or eat. Soon after, three more, ... ... middle of paper ... ...Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylmercury#Environmental_sources. [Accessed 01 April 2014]. The Poisoning of Minamata . 2014. The Poisoning of Minamata . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www1.umn.edu/ships/ethics/minamata.htm. [Accessed 04 April 2014]. File:Minamata map illustrating Chisso factory effluent routes2.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2014. File:Minamata map illustrating Chisso factory effluent routes2.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Minamata_map_illustrating_Chisso_factory_effluent_routes2.png. [Accessed 04 April 2014]. Methylmercury Contamination in Fish, CSA - Discovery Guides. 2014. Methylmercury Contamination in Fish, CSA - Discovery Guides. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/mercury/review5.php. [Accessed 04 April 2014].
The product was made from 4-methylcyclohexanol. The chemical, 4-methylcyclohexanol is used in industrial settings. In 2014, West Virginia was exposed to this chemical in drinking water. Since this chemical is used to wash coal of its impurities, it was unsafe to drink the water as well as take a shower (CNN). Similarly, 4-methylcyclohexanol has a strong smell which may cause people to have symptoms like vomiting, skin irritation, and trouble breathing. Diesel is also replaced by 4-methylcyclohexanol (National Geographic).
party in the past placed hazardous wastes there. ( The seller of a foundry was
Some of the pollutants that GKN Aerospace produces stem from the use of solvents, degreasers, spraying of paints, spent fuel exhaust and chemical milling. GKN is aware of these pollutants and has taken steps to reduce the impact these pollutants have on both the environment and their workforce. One of the means they have taken is with the help of the State of Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Occupational Safety and Health Association, also known as OSHA.
Mercury and Selenium Concentrations in Biofilm, Macroinvertebrates, and Fish Collected in the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho, USA, and Their Potential Effects on Fish Health. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Volume 64, Issue 1. pg. 130-139.
Freedom Industries is a service provider of specialty industrial chemicals for mining, steel, and cement. The company was founded in 1986 by Gary Southern and Carl L. Kennedy and is also a producer of freeze conditioning agents, water treatment polymers, dust control palliatives and other chemicals (Freedom Industries, 2005). The chemical that was released into the water supply is known as methylcyclohexane (MCHM) and not much is known about the potential health risks of exposure to the chemical.(The Associated Press, 2014). However, there is no guarantee that there are no long term health effects caused by the chemical since regulators do not have adequate data (The Associated Press, 2014).
[4] Fara, G. M.. "The ICMESA accident. First intervention for the protection of man and environment." Chemistry, Man and Environment 1 (1999): 3-16.
Throughout this mining process a byproduct is created called chat. The chat is leftover rock and waste from mining that did not contained the desired materials. The chat was left on the site because the Bureau of Indian Affairs thought it could be of value to the Quapaw tribe (1). This chat contained high levels of toxic lead and other harmful chemicals. It is estimated that there are 75 Million tons (150 billion pounds) of chat piles remaining exposed to the environment as well as numerous flotation ponds that haven’t been taken into account (4).
Expoure to elemental mercury is mostly due to indoor spills, medical waste, and left over mercury from school labs, which is due to humans not pro...
after a few pushes Kaiana Shaniese Lee, a beautiful baby girl, was born on September 8,1999 weighing 8 lbs and 3.5 oz with a head full of hair. Sadly, Tanya didn’t get the chance to hold her new child due to the doctors rushing her off to the NICU for observation. 2 hours later Tanya received the worst news a new mother could receive, That her newborn was severely ill her chest was completely filled with Meconium and she’d have to be moved to Charlottesville because the hospital they were currently in was not equipped to treat the severity of her child's
The following paper is about the Sultana Disaster in 1865. It describes the story of the disaster, includes a description of the ship, as well as ethics, the cause, results, and conclusion of the tragedy. Research includes online sources as well as a newspaper entry. Future work may include research of the aftermath and cleanup procedures of the disaster, as well as publicism throughout the U.S. Furthermore, research questions may address the structure of the ship’s boilers and other possible causes for the incident.
In the event that you think you have a contamination, contact your essential consideration supplier
Between March and June 2006, three loads of 28,000 tons of Coker Naphtha were put on board Probo Koala, a cargo ship owned by Trafigura. Caustic soda and other chemicals are used to clean the Coker Naphtha to make it into gasoline. This process of cleaning the Coker Naphtha produced 500 tons of toxic waste. Later Trafigura was facing a problem of how to safely dispose of all this toxic material. Amsterdam Port Services, a Dutch waste management company agreed to treat and dispose of the waste. While the company was transferring the waste, a foul smell was released onto the city. The company decided to check into the product that they were going to deal with. Amsterdam Port Services discovered that the toxic waste was much more polluted than they thought, which required a more complicated and time consuming treatment. The company wanted more money to treat the toxic waste, but Trafigura did not want to pay the asking price. This left Trafigura with no company to dispose of their toxic
On December 19th 2007, a small chemical manufacturer T2 Laboratories suffered a catastrophic failure and release while in production of a compound that is produced to increase octane in gasoline and is a common additive in fuel production Methyleclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl or MCMT. The failure occurred during production and resulted in the death of 4 and injuries to 32 people, 28 of which were members of the community. (CSB, 2009)
... (The Issues: Factory Farming, n.d.). Nutrients and bacteria from that waste can also contaminate waterways, disturbing the aquatic ecosystems.
The Industrial Revolution sparked a new curiosity and need for chemical engineering. In order for certain industries to sustain growth, the production of chemicals became of great importance, especially sulfuric acid. In attempts to improve the process of making this chemical, much time, money and effort was put into it. By this, the slightest savings led to large profits because of the vast quantities of sulfuric acid consumed by industries (Pafko, "Setting Stage").