Abstract
ESEP Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics Contact the journal RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections ESEP 12:99-111 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esep00126 Role of experts and public participation in pollution control: the case of Itai-itai disease in Japan1 Masanori Kaji Graduate School of Decision Science and Technology, Group of History of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, W9-79, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan *Email: kaji.m.aa@m.titech.ac.jp ABSTRACT: Itai-itai disease was first noticed in the Junzu River basin region in Toyama prefecture in central Japan around the 1930s. However, it was not identified as a cadmium poisoning disease until the 1960s. A local physician, with cooperation from outside experts, confirmed that the disease was caused by pollution from the Kamioka mine (owned by the Mitsui Mining & Smelting Company Ltd) located in the upstream region of the river. In the mid-1960s, the victims of Itai-itai disease filed a suit against the company and won their case in 1972. The victims received compensation and signed a pollution control agreement with the company. The case of Itai-itai disease is a rare example of successful pollution control in Japan: the annual inspections of the ensuing 40 yr, based on the pollution control agreement, show a reduction of cadmium concentrations in the river to natural levels. By analyzing the roles of various experts involved, this case study has contributed substantially to an understanding of the nature of expertise and the significance of public participation in the resolution of environmental problems. 1The present publication is a revised and expanded version of papers in Japanese by Kaji (2005, 2009), published in English with permission of the copyright holder. KEY WORDS: Itai-itai disease · Pollution control · Cadmium · Public participation · Victims · Mining pollution Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Kaji M (2012) Role of experts and public participation in pollution control: the case of Itai-itai disease in Japan1. Ethics Sci Environ Polit 12:99-111. https://doi.org/10.3354/esep00126 Export citation Mail this link - Contents Mailing Lists - RSS Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESEP Vol. 12, No. 2. Online publication date: July 06, 2012 Print ISSN: 1863-5415; Online ISSN: 1611-8014 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.
Highlights
During the 1960s and 1970s, Japan enjoyed a period of very high economic growth but suffered at the same time from various forms of pollution, such as air, water, noise, and mining pollution
After Hagino and Yoshioka reported at a 1961 academic meeting that the cause of Itai-itai disease, based on well-founded research, was cadmium discarded by the Kamioka mine, a number of research groups were established by the prefecture and the central government
The court’s final decision was that Itai-itai disease was caused by cadmium discarded by the Kamioka mine and that Mitsui was responsible for compensating the victims for all of the damages and for remediation of the contaminated soil (Matsunami 2010, p. 299−302)
Summary
During the 1960s and 1970s, Japan enjoyed a period of very high economic growth but suffered at the same time from various forms of pollution, such as air, water, noise, and mining pollution. Ethics Sci Environ Polit 12: 99–111, 2012 women generally have lower body weight and less dense bone mass, and their physiology enhances the uptake of cadmium and its damage The affected residents sued polluters in an attempt to complain publicly and receive compensation for damages. This attempt was included in the so-called ‘four major pollution-related lawsuits’ of the 1970s: Itai-itai disease, Minamata disease, the Second Minamata disease in Niigata prefecture, and Yokkaichi pollution. All of the victims, including those of Itai-itai disease, filed a suit against the companies that caused the damages and won their cases. Only in the case of Itai-itai disease did victims succeed in forcing almost complete pollution control, which was rare in Japan at the time. The case of Itai-itai disease will shed light on problems with expertise and public participation, especially on the role of experts and the significance of public participation in resolving techno-environmental problems
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