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mercury used for hat-making
mad hatter based on this- made people crazy
1932, chisso discharges wastewater
- microorganisms made inorganic mercury, ingested by fish and affected humans
denied allegations in 1950 -
destroyed fishing industry
victims and family were ostracized
court made Chisso and Japanese govn. pay compensation -
1972- minamata patients attended UN conference
1977- sediment in Minamata Bay was dredged
1997- declared free of mercury contamination
mercury use regulated