250+ TOP MCQs on Landmark Episode – Minamata Disaster and Answers

Hazardous Waste Management Multiple Choice Questions on “Landmark Episode – Minamata Disaster”.

1. Minamata disease was caused by consumption of fish containing ____________
a) Mercury
b) Lead
c) Zinc
d) Sulphur
Answer: a
Clarification: Minamata disease is a disease of the central nervous system, caused by the consumption of fish and shellfish contaminated with methyl mercury compounds.

2. Minamata disease is an infectious disease.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Minamata disease is not an infectious disease transferred by air or food, neither is it genetically inherited.

3. Where was the first minamata disease outbreak reported?
a) Kumamoto
b) Alabama
c) Texas
d) Carolina
Answer: a
Clarification: The first recognized minamata disease outbreaks occurred around Minamata Bay, in Kumamoto Prefecture,1956.

4. Which among the following is the symptoms of minamata disease?
a) Dizziness
b) Ataxia
c) Vomiting
d) Choking
Answer: b
Clarification: The symptoms of minamata disease include sensory disorders in the distal portion of the four extremities, ataxia, concentric constriction of the visual field, hearing impairment, disequilibrium, speech impediments, tremors, and disorder of the ocular movement.

5. Who identified the mercury compound in shellfish?
a) Makio Uchida
b) Jimmy Carter
c) Lois Gibbs
d) Lewis Jeff
Answer: a
Clarification: Professor Makio Uchida of the Kumamoto University Study Group announced on September 29, 1960 discovered crystal of an organic mercury compound from the shellfish of Minamata Bay.

6. When was the official opinion on Minamata disease announced?
a) 1980
b) 1968
c) 1982
d) 1983
Answer: b
Clarification: The national government announced its official opinion on Minamata disease on September 26, 1968.

7. Which factory was responsible for outbreak of minamata disease?
a) Chisso Minamata
b) Alfred Minamata
c) Bruce Minamata
d) Wayne Minamata
Answer: a
Clarification: Chisso Minamata factory polluted the environment by discharging factory drainage containing methyl mercury compound which were formed as by-products in the acetaldehyde synthesizing process.

8. What is the death count due to minamata disease?
a) 2268
b) 5568
c) 7768
d) 8868
Answer: a
Clarification: At the end of August 2007, the number of certified patients amounted to a total of 2,268 persons including 778 in Kumamoto Prefecture and 490 in Kagoshima Prefecture.

9. What was the compensation given from Chisso factory to fishing industry?
a) 100 million yen
b) 200 million yen
c) 300 million yen
d) 400 million yen
Answer: d
Clarification: In 1973, the Minamata Fisheries Co-op received 4 hundred million yen from Chisso as compensation to the fishing industry and 2.28 billion was also paid to the 30 fishing cooperatives of the Shiranui Seaboard, and 729.6 million to the three fishing cooperatives of Izumi City, Azuma Town, and Nagashima Town.

>