Kanemi oil disease cases in Fukuoka and Nagasaki (1968)

Kanemi oil disease cases in Fukuoka and Nagasaki (1968)

The 1968 Kanemi Oil Pollution Incident involved PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins in edible rice bran oil manufactured by Kanemi Warehouse (Nagasaki City), causing health problems for approximately 14,000 people mainly in Fukuoka and Nagasaki Prefectures. The cause was PCBs contained in the heating medium (Unipearl 100H) used in the manufacturing process that leaked into the oil. Victims developed skin pigmentation, chloroacne, and internal organ diseases, and the damage extended to the next generation. The Japanese government and Kanemi Warehouse proceeded to provide compensation and treatment support, but issues such as the amount of compensation and victim identification remain. This incident highlighted the inadequacies of Japan's chemical substance management and served as an impetus to tighten regulations on food safety and environmental issues.