(National Institute for Minamata Disease and Yatsushiro Sea)

History and Organization
1956 Official recognition of Minamata disease
1965 Official recognition of Minamata disease in Niigata
1968 Official government announcement that Minamata
disease is caused by methylmercury (MeHg) compounds
in factory effluents
1971 Establishment of Environmental Agency
Director
1978 Establishment of National Institute for Minamata
GeneralDisease (NIMD)
1986 Designation of NIMD as a WHO Collaborating
DeputyCentreDirector
2001 Renaming of Environmental Agency as Ministry ofthe Environment
Opening of Minamata Disease Archives
2006 Participation in the 50th anniversary project of the officialrecognition of Minamata disease2010 Legal designation of Minamata Disease Archives as a
research institute for managing academic materials
2013 The Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata
Convention was held at the Minamata Disease Archives inMinamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Chief Director for Research Planning
Director for Research General Coordination
Administration
Division
Department ofInternational
Affairs and ResearchInternational Information
SectionRegional Policy Section
Mercury Analysis
Technique Section

Department of Clinical
Medicine

Comprehensive Medicine
SectionRehabilitation Section
Toxicologic Pathology
Section

Department of Basic
Medical Science

Integrative Physiology
SectionHygienic Chemistry
SectionEcology Section

Department ofEnvironment andPublic Health

Environmental Chemistry
SectionEnvironmental Health
SectionLong-Terms Aims and Mid-Term Plan
Long-term aims
Preventing pollution in Japan and worldwide and promoting the welfare of the affected area by
researching methylmercury (MeHg), the cause of Minamata disease. Collecting and organizing
information and disseminating research results and information.

Mid-term plan 2020
Planning Period

Clinical/Welfare/
Social Group

Five years (2020–2024)
The research plan will be reviewed as needed

Priority Research and Activities○ Evaluation of health effects of MeHg exposure and its
application to treatment

NatureEnvironment
GroupPathomechanism
GroupProject research
Fundamental researchActivities○ Environmental dynamics of MeHg
○ Contribution to the improvement of community welfare○ Contribution to the international community

Basic Guidelines for Research and Activities
Risk Assessment
Group■Promotion of Project Research
To promote research in important fields by a cross-sectionalteam of NIMD personnel and external investigators■Promotion of Fundamental Research
To improve research capacity and train researchers,
promoting fundamental research and producing a mercury
knowledge base at NIMD from Long-term perspective■Activities

InternationalContribution/Information
Group

System for Research and Activities
To classify project and fundamental research andrelated activities into five groups by purpose andpromote cross-sectional research activities

To participate in regional and international contributions via
our whole activity

Previous Achievements
Key study results (cited by researchers worldwide)◼ Impact of MeHg on developing fetuses◼ Involvement of oxidative stress in MeHg toxicity◼ Mechanism of MeHg toxicity in the central nervous system Slovenia

International contributions

Kazakhstan
Technical dissemination－monitoring
wastewater from a plant

Mongolia

Investigation－mercury
dynamics in a mining

Evaluation－mercury
exposure in a gold refinery◼ Field study on mercury contamination and educational andtechnical dissemination of mercury monitoring techniques Nicaragua◼ Training overseas researchers

Mercury analysis techniques, MeHg toxicity, and Minamata
disease◼ Monitoring airborne mercury concentrations
Collaboration with an EU-led global monitoring project◼ Holding the NIMD Forum on mercury

Technical dissemination－
monitoring residual mercury
associated with a factory

ChinaSurvey and technology
educationNIMD

Brazil
Evaluation－mercury exposureand health effects in gold miners

Community contributions◼ Periodic environmental monitoring of mercury in
Minamata Bay◼ Community development project for home-care support

Partnerships with external entities◼ Collaborative research with universities and otherinstitutions in Japan and overseas◼ Academic agreements on graduate education

Tanzania

Cambodia

Indonesia

Technical dissemination－mercury exposure in goldminers

Survey－industrial waste
pollution

Survey－mercury
contamination froma gold mine

Major NIMD collaborative efforts on
global mercury concerns

ResearchOverview
研 究 概要Project Research
Fundamental research on neurotoxic mechanism by
methylmercury and its related prevention and treatment

Nerve axons destroyed by
MeHg

Nerve axons repaired byROCK inhibitor

To prevent and treat nerve dysfunction caused by MeHg, westudy its mechanism of toxicity and the effects of therapeutic
drugs in experimental animals. (Pathomechanism Group)

Study on the health effects of methylmercury exposure andtherapy for Minamata disease
Objective
diagnostic
methodsofMeHg
poisoning
includemagnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging.
Developing an effective therapy that is based on the pathogenetic
mechanism of symptoms. (Clinical/Welfare/Social Group)

Examination ofbrain function
using MEG

Study on factors influencing the vertical distribution ofspeciated mercury in the ocean
Elucidate factors that affect MeHg concentrations in the ocean such as
mercury exchange between air and seawater, chemical reactions ofHg species, intake of MeHg by phytoplankton, and mercury elution
from marine snows in the deep ocean. (Nature Environment Group）

Seawater samplingin the ocean

Simplification and optimization of mercury analysis
techniques and development of reference materials
To evaluate exposure and strengthen mercury monitoring inunderdeveloped countries, preparation of reference materials toguarantee accurate analysis, and simplify mercury analysis techniques.
(International Contribution/Information Group)

Fundamental Research
１Pathomechanism GroupGold extraction in a small
gold-mining area using
elemental mercury

Reference materials
to assess the efficacy of
the Minamata Convention

Elucidate the causal factors in MeHg-induced neural dysfunction using a comprehensive approach on themolecular (gene and protein), cellular (cultured cell), individual (laboratory animal), and human (pathologytissue) levels, and apply the findings in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

２Clinical/Welfare/Social Group
Improve the welfare of areas affected by Minamata disease through care and prevention, societal implement ofresearch outcome on regional reconciliation and development, and disseminate information for historicalverification of Minamata disease.

３Risk Assessment Group
Study the health effects of MeHg in individuals exposed to high concentrations of mercury and susceptible
populations such as fetuses and children through both epidemiological and experimental studies, taking into
account effect modifiers such as selenium intake.

４Nature Environment Group
Obtain detailed information on emission sources and chemical reactions of mercury in air, water, sediments, andorganisms at a local, regional, and global scale. Implement integrated studies of environmental mercury that
include field surveys, monitoring, and laboratory experiments by collaborating with domestic and foreign researchentities.

Separation of neurons by laser
microdissection

Collaboration workshop withoverseas researchers and fetal
Minamata disease patientsInterviews on diet and lifestyle

Instrument for measuring mercury
isotope ratios with high precision

Overview of Activities
１Clinical/Welfare/Social Group■Welfare support service in collaboration with the Council
on Social Welfare of Minamata and Izumi City
■Daycare and outpatient rehabilitation services for
Minamata disease patients and conducting rehabilitation
seminars■Digitization for permanent preservation of pathologicaltissue specimens from Minamata disease patients■Maintenance and dissemination of information on
Minamata disease and mercury

２Risk Assessment Group

Community living (welfare support
service for the elderly)

Outpatient rehabilitation■Measurement of mercury levels in hair and provision ofinformation on mercury

３Nature Environment Group■Continuous monitoring of mercury and related chemicals in
Minamata Bay■Speaking on scientific topics including mercury for students
in elementary and junior high schools

Seawater sampling in
Minamata Bay

4 International Contribution/Information Group■ Conducting training and technology transfer in developing
countries on mercury analysis technologies■Hosting an international conference (NIMD Forum) annuallyto disseminate the results of mercury research and exchange
research insights■Support the International Conference on Mercury as a Global
Pollutant (ICMGP) and a satellite workshop organized byNIMD■ Hair mercury examination of areas concerning for mercury
pollution around the world■Collaborate with major international organizations such as
WHO and UNEP

Hair sampling to assess MeHg
exposurein 京都

NIMD Forum
Overseas training in mercury analysis

Minamata Disease Archives
Minamata Disease Archives was established as an attached facility of NIMD in
2001. It serves a number of functions such as promoting a better
understanding of Minamata disease, communicating the lessons learned from
Minamata disease and mercury, and contributing to the development ofresearch on these fields.
■Organization and provision of documents and materials on Minamata
disease and mercury■To provide information through exhibitions and lectures■To organize meetings for an academic and scientific exchange on issues
related to Minamata disease

Minamata Disease Archives

NIMD Logo
The river and sea of Minamata are depicted in the form of theJapanese character “ 水 ” (water). The victims of Minamata
disease are symbolized as an adult on the left side and as a fetus
on the right. We created this logo in blue and green, beautiful
natural colors whose use also warns of the adverse effects ofenvironmental pollution.
National Institute for Minamata Disease

National Institute for Minamata Disease
Ministry of the Environment, Japan

4058-18 Hama, Minamata City, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
Tel: +81-966-63-3111; fax:+81-966-61-1145
http://nimd.env.jp/

Minamata Disease Archives
55-10 Myojin-cho, Minamata City, Kumamoto 867-0055, Japan
Tel: +81-966-69-2400; fax: +81-966-62-8010
http://nimd.env.jp/archives/2020.７作成