Minamata Environmental Disease

Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Kumamoto prefecture Japan, in Japan, in 1956. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which continued from 1932 to 1968. The Chisso Corporation first opened a chemical factory in Minamata in 1908. Initially producing fertilizers, the factory followed the nationwide expansion of Japan's chemical industry, branching out into the production of acetylene, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, vinyl chloride, and octanol, among others. The Minamata factory became the most advanced in all Japan, both before and World War II. The products resulting from the manufacture of these chemicals were released into Minamata Bay in the factory wastewater. Inevitably, these pollutants had an environmental impact. Ultimately it was caused by daily intake of fish and shellfish highly contaminated by methylmercury.  Through gills and gastrointestinal tracts, fishery products such as fish, shrimp, carbs, and shellfish, take in methylmercury discharged from chemical plants into rivers and seas. Flesh-eating fish that eat those contaminated fish also accumulate the toxic substance( food web). Thus accumulated methylmercury in sea-food intoxicates people who have eaten a lot of such seafood daily. Sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease. The symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. A fundamental cure for Minamata disease has not yet been found. The main treatments involve the temporary relief of symptoms (symptoms therapy), rehabilitation (physiotherapy and occupational therapy). In all, 900 people died and 2,265 people were certified as having directly suffered from mercury poisoning- now known as Minamata disease.

The Year without a Summer

Mount Tambora is located in Sambora which is an island of Indonesia.On April tenth of 1815 the Volcano erupted over a span of two weeks.Covered a square area 100 miles on each side to a depth of almost 12 feet. The eruption killed 12,000 people in the span of those two weeks. Sulfur Dioxide was shot high into the air mixing with water vapor. This turned it into Sulfur Aerosols. These particles linger above the air and reflect light back to the atmosphere dropping the earth's temperature.Snow was reported on June 6, 1816 in New York and Maine and in Cape May, New Jersey had five days of frost that killed crops and left people with no food. Grain prices quadrupled and oats went up eight fold.In Europe the same things happened with the crops. European cities were ravaged with  famine, disease, arson, and looting. People lost faith in God and their Kings.

The Bhopal Gas Leak

The Bhopal Gas Leak was one of the most deadliest pollution that killed thousands of people. The Gas Leak was caused by methyl isocyanate. This chemical is a terrible mixture of methyl and cyanide plus oxygen causing your body to burn or even worse die, which happen back in December 2-3 1984 at Union Carbine. 
This happen by entries of water and methyl isocyanate being mixed in over heating the tank causing it to pop and letting out chemical. By this incident it cause the chemical to become gas and killing over 5,000 people. As of today people still get infected by this gas causing them to have disorders. But as of today people are still trying make an huge effort on trying to save Bhopal.

Terrance Parks                             3/11/ 19

Environmental science                        Block 4

In my presentation, I talked about the importance of The Endangered Species Act and its effect on the world. I inform the class of its origin, giving background details on why it was put in and who saw the importance of the issue. I presented a list of the various creatures who were endangered or on the verge of being endangered, to their current growth in species population due to the act. While some might not see the importance of this act, not only does it protect animals, but plants and other forms of life in the environments. Overall we should still be stressing the importance of this act so that the balance of multiple environments stay intact.