In the late 1950s Minamata Bay, Japan became contaminated with mercury from a nearby factory manufacturing the chemical acetaldehyde (Chisso Corporation's chemical waste pipe). On May 1, 1956, a doctor in Japan reported an 'epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system,' marking the official discovery of Minamata disease. Originally published as a bulletin feature for the newsletter of CHE-WA (Collaborative on Health and the Environment, Washington State chapter) produced by Steven G. Mercury: The Tragedy of Minamata Disease Lessons Learned: Looking Back to Go ForwardĪ series of articles exploring historical events that provide an important lesson for ensuring a more sustainable and healthy environment.