Where was the painful bone disease Itai Itai first discovered?
The painful bone disease ‘Itai Itai’ was first discovered in Japan. It emerged due to cadmium poisoning, primarily affecting residents near industrial sites polluted with cadmium-containing wastewater in the Toyama Prefecture during the mid-20th century.
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The painful bone disease ‘Itai Itai’ was first discovered in (a) Japan. It emerged in the mid-20th century in the Toyama Prefecture. The disease resulted from cadmium poisoning due to industrial pollution. Cadmium-contaminated wastewater discharged from local mining operations contaminated rice fields and water sources, leading to widespread exposure. ‘Itai Itai’ disease caused excruciating pain, skeletal deformities, and weakened bones, earning its name from the Japanese expression for “ouch, ouch.” This tragic episode highlighted the devastating health consequences of environmental pollution and spurred efforts to regulate industrial waste disposal to prevent similar incidents globally.