Scenarios about 'itai-itai disease'
A severe form of cadmium poisoning first documented in Japan's Toyama Prefecture during the 1940s, caused by mining operations that contaminated the Jinzū River with heavy metals. The name derives from the Japanese expression for "ouch-ouch," reflecting the excruciating pain sufferers experienced as the disease caused bone softening, kidney failure, and multiple fractures. Itai-itai disease represents one of history's earliest documented cases of widespread industrial pollution directly impacting human health.
What If The Itai-Itai Disease Outbreak Never Occurred?
Exploring the alternate timeline where Japan avoided its most severe case of cadmium poisoning, potentially altering the trajectory of environmental regulation, industrial practices, and public health policy in post-war Japan and globally.