minamata disease

Min·a·ma·ta disease   (mĭn'ə-mä'tə)    n.  A degenerative neurological disorder caused by poisoning with a mercury compound found in seafood obtained from waters contaminated with mercury-containing industrial waste. [After Minamata, a town of western Kyushu, Japan.]

Main Entry: Min·a·mata disease
Pronunciation: "min-&-'mät-&-
Function: noun
: a toxic neuropathy caused by the ingestion ofmethylmercury compounds (as in contaminated seafood) and characterized by impairment of cerebral functions, constriction of the visual field, and progressive weakening of muscles

Minamata disease Min·a·ma·ta disease (mĭn'ə-mä'tə)
n.
A degenerative neurological disorder caused by poisoning with a mercury compound in seafood from waters contaminated with mercury, characterized by burning or tingling sensations, poor articulation of speech, and the loss of coordination and peripheral vision.