Development

The pollution began in the mid 1950's, they called it mercury pollution. In 1965 the Itai-Itai disease broke out because of pollution; but not until the 1990's did the real problems begin to occur due to the development of many auto-industries and oil companies.

• 1950's - Japans pollution problems begin (mercury pollution)
• 1965 - The Itai-Itai disease breaks out in Japan becasue of pollution but didn't really hit until the 70's
• 1969 - Air pollution was so bad that oxygen was handed out in the streets; many people died of disease
• 1970 - Japan was ruled one of the world's most polluted countries
• 1973 - Major chemical company was blamed for the mercury infection of citizens
• 1989 - The emission of Greenhouse gasses blamed on Japan, United States, and the Soviet Union
• 2000 - Japan and other East Asian countries agree to regulate water pollution
• 2007 - Japan blames China for pollution in its country
• 2010 - Overall pollution has decreased since the restrictions in 1968, but the pollution is still affecting surrounding areas

Impact

This pollution problem had many effects on the people, the environment, the economy, and the government. Because of all of the polluted air, water, and land a lot of the environment has been destroyed. Many people living in this area have had health issues due to the air pollution; the most common is asthma. Many people have tried to file lawsuits on auto-industries because they claim that all of the emissions that they have been exposed to has given them asthma. The two most prominent cases have sued these companies for millions of dollars. This issue has hurt the economy as well because, as an act to try and save the environment, many people have stopped buying cars and certain fuels, and instead they are riding more public transportation.

Major Concerns

1. Disease
2. The environment
3. Living conditions

Future

People are already preparing for the future by regulating the use of certain emissions and more people are now riding public busses, instead of driving individual cars. But if this hard work is not followed through with, the area might become too polluted to live in in the distant future.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20050428f4.html