Health Tips
There is little that can be done by way of prevention or home treatment when it comes to dealing with Minamata Disease. As it is caused by exposure to environmental toxins, there is nothing you can do unless there is awareness about the presence of toxicity and pollution in the region and knowledge about the source of exposure. For example, in Minamata Bay, the toxicity levels of methylmercury were high in sea water, where sewage was dumped and the main source of exposure was through the consumption of seafood. If you live in such a region, it would be best to avoid consuming any local seafood. Likewise, crops can also be contaminated when pollution reaches the water table or the soil. In some places, food may be exposed to methylmercury because of the type of fertilizers or pesticides used. In this regard, organic food is much safer, whether we are talking about farming or the raising of livestock and poultry.
The most important thing that you can do is to raise awareness about the disaster in Minamata and how it has affected the lives of its inhabitants. This incident serves as an important warning and reminder about the fragility of our ecosystem and how easily the balance can be upset when big businesses are allowed to exploit natural resources without any restrictions or regulations.
