PCB problem due to Fukuoka Kanemi Oil Incident

PCB problem due to Fukuoka Kanemi Oil Incident

The 1968 Kanemi Oil Sickness Incident centered in Fukuoka Prefecture was an event that brought widespread awareness of the dangers of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Japan. Approximately 14,000 people developed symptoms of poisoning, known as oil sickness, after Kanecrol, a thermal medium containing PCBs, was mixed with rice bran oil produced by Kanemi Warehouse Co. Serious health problems such as rashes, fatigue, and liver dysfunction were reported. After the incident, the Japanese government banned the production and use of PCBs in 1972, but some 40,000 tons of PCBs remain in Japan and are stored untreated. The government plans to eliminate all PCBs by 2027.