Fig.

3:Distribution of Occurvence of Certified Patients [31Mar2001

Fig.2: Scheme of How the Methylmercury Compound is Transmitted from the Acetaldehyde Manufacturing Process to Human Body

Table 1. Various Indices showing the Threshold Value for Onset of Symptoms in Human Body (Level at which neurological symptoms would appear in the most sensitive adults) Average daily intake Body burden 3-7 g/kg 15-35mg50kg weight)

Total mercury concentration in blood 20-50g/100ml Total mercury concentration in hair 50-125g/g

(Source: "IPCS Environmental Health Criteria No.101 Methylmercury",etc.) Table 2. Effluent Standard for Mercury Based Upon the Water Pollution Control Law Total mercury Alkyl mercury compounds 0.005mg/l Must not be detected (Limit of detection 0.0005mg/l)

Methylmercury, an organicmercury compound released in factory wastewater and the cause of Minamata disease