Onsan illness: Difference between revisions
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'''Onsan |
'''Onsan Illness''' ({{lang|ko|온산병}}) is the name for a pollution disease in Korea that occurred in [[Onsan-eup]], [[Ulju-gun]], [[Ulsan]], Korea.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CCdZHRTkFpAC&pg=PA94&lpg=PA94&dq=%22onsan+illness%22&source=bl&ots=qXQS_3mRRB&sig=cMNHGzSWP4sHfMnRa0kpJC4lzmo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis5Y_53IvXAhULfhoKHZ9dBuQQ6AEILTAA#v=onepage&q=%22onsan%20illness%22&f=false|title=Asia's Environmental Movements: Comparative Perspectives|last=Lee|first=Yok-shiu F.|last2=So|first2=Alvin Y.|date=1999|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=9781563249082|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MRX7ItTeXN4C&pg=PA244&lpg=PA244&dq=%22onsan+illness%22&source=bl&ots=J2t3m8LY3E&sig=GUjgNwfzWFsmCJN6S857HmAnhgU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis5Y_53IvXAhULfhoKHZ9dBuQQ6AEIMTAB#v=onepage&q=%22onsan%20illness%22&f=false|title=Ecology and the World-system|last=Goldfrank|first=Walter L.|last2=Goodman|first2=David|last3=Szasz|first3=Andrew|date=1999|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780313307256|language=en}}</ref> It caused a variety of symptoms in the general public and gave rise to an environmental movement in the mid-1980s. |
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== Background == |
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In the 1970s South Korea’s dictator [[Park Chung-hee|Park Chung Hee]] pushed for a [[Heavy-Chemical Industry Drive|heavy-chemical industry drive]] in an effort to modernise the country’s economy and make it less dependent on foreign imports, while encouraging [[foreign direct investment]]. The [[South Gyeongsang Province]] was one of the areas identified for industrial development along with the independently administered coastal corridor between [[Ulsan]] and [[Busan]]. From 1974 onwards, an area of 2,000 ha in Onsan - to the south of Ulsan - became home to a multitude of industrial complexes, with 12 chemical factories initially in operation. After 1990, the area grew to more than 120 factories employing over 10,000 staff.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0l8yBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT60&dq=onsan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigvtSt347XAhUDuBoKHd1_CqIQ6AEIVzAJ#v=onepage&q=onsan&f=false|title=The State of the Environment in Asia: 1999/2000|last=Council|first=The Japan Environmental|last2=Awaji|first2=Takehisa|last3=Teranishi|first3=Shunichi|date=2012-12-06|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9784431683803|language=en}}</ref> |
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The environmental impact gained initial visibility with gas leaks in 1982 and 1984 which required hospitalisation of over 100 residents.<ref name=":1" /> In 1983, the local government suspended the fishing rights of the largely rural population over concerns of pollution.<ref name=":2" /> In 1985, media began reporting of an illness that may have affected over 500 residents which was believed to be environmental. After the government ran blood and urine tests, an official statement pushed back on the theory of poisoning.<ref name=":2" /> However, environmental action groups questioned those results. |
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As pollution worsened, the government suspended the fishing rights of the largely rural population. |
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== Onsan illness == |
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The cases of illness combined with the risk to their livelihoods sparked a grass roots movement forcing the government to investigate and publicise details of the environmental impact of the factories. |
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In 1985 the environmental organisations KRIPP and KAPMA - predecessors of the [[Korean Federation for Environmental Movement]] - drew public attention to cases of unexplained illness which seems to cluster around the city of Onsan. The primary symptom was [[neuralgia]], but cases of eye and [[Irritation|skin irritation]] as well as breathing problems were also reported. Most such cases became statistically relevant from 1980 onwards, when pollution became a significant problem.<ref name=":1" /> |
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The collective group of symptoms was termed ''Onsan illness'' as a clear cause was initially unknown. |
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| ⚫ | It is believed that over 500 cases of |
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Comparisons have been drawn with the [[Itai-itai disease]], which caused similar symptoms and was caused by [[cadmium poisoning]] from the mining industry in the [[Toyama Prefecture|Toyama prefecture]] in Japan.<ref name=":1" /> |
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| ⚫ | It is believed that over 500 cases of cadmium poisoning have occurred.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CgG0TfMyitEC&pg=PA211&dq=onsan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj5zuvi6YvXAhVG2BoKHSyjBtcQ6AEILzAC#v=onepage&q=onsan&f=false|title=East Asian Social Movements: Power, Protest, and Change in a Dynamic Region|last=Broadbent|first=Jeffrey|last2=Brockman|first2=Vicky|date=2011-01-07|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9780387096261|language=en}}</ref> |
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=== Impact === |
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The health impact combined with the risk to their livelihoods sparked a grass roots movement supported by the media. While the government maintained their position that poisoning is not the cause of this illness, it did admit to high pollution in the area. As a result, from 1991 between 30,000 and 40,000 residents were re-housed away from the affected area as part of a ''Collective Emigration Plan''.<ref name=":0" /> It is thought that over time some of those may have returned.<ref name=":1" /> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 18:12, 26 October 2017
Onsan Illness (온산병) is the name for a pollution disease in Korea that occurred in Onsan-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, Korea.[1][2] It caused a variety of symptoms in the general public and gave rise to an environmental movement in the mid-1980s.
Background
In the 1970s South Korea’s dictator Park Chung Hee pushed for a heavy-chemical industry drive in an effort to modernise the country’s economy and make it less dependent on foreign imports, while encouraging foreign direct investment. The South Gyeongsang Province was one of the areas identified for industrial development along with the independently administered coastal corridor between Ulsan and Busan. From 1974 onwards, an area of 2,000 ha in Onsan - to the south of Ulsan - became home to a multitude of industrial complexes, with 12 chemical factories initially in operation. After 1990, the area grew to more than 120 factories employing over 10,000 staff.[3]
The environmental impact gained initial visibility with gas leaks in 1982 and 1984 which required hospitalisation of over 100 residents.[3] In 1983, the local government suspended the fishing rights of the largely rural population over concerns of pollution.[4] In 1985, media began reporting of an illness that may have affected over 500 residents which was believed to be environmental. After the government ran blood and urine tests, an official statement pushed back on the theory of poisoning.[4] However, environmental action groups questioned those results.
Onsan illness
In 1985 the environmental organisations KRIPP and KAPMA - predecessors of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement - drew public attention to cases of unexplained illness which seems to cluster around the city of Onsan. The primary symptom was neuralgia, but cases of eye and skin irritation as well as breathing problems were also reported. Most such cases became statistically relevant from 1980 onwards, when pollution became a significant problem.[3]
The collective group of symptoms was termed Onsan illness as a clear cause was initially unknown.
Comparisons have been drawn with the Itai-itai disease, which caused similar symptoms and was caused by cadmium poisoning from the mining industry in the Toyama prefecture in Japan.[3]
It is believed that over 500 cases of cadmium poisoning have occurred.[4]
Impact
The health impact combined with the risk to their livelihoods sparked a grass roots movement supported by the media. While the government maintained their position that poisoning is not the cause of this illness, it did admit to high pollution in the area. As a result, from 1991 between 30,000 and 40,000 residents were re-housed away from the affected area as part of a Collective Emigration Plan.[1] It is thought that over time some of those may have returned.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b Lee, Yok-shiu F.; So, Alvin Y. (1999). Asia's Environmental Movements: Comparative Perspectives. M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 9781563249082.
- ^ Goldfrank, Walter L.; Goodman, David; Szasz, Andrew (1999). Ecology and the World-system. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313307256.
- ^ a b c d e Council, The Japan Environmental; Awaji, Takehisa; Teranishi, Shunichi (2012-12-06). The State of the Environment in Asia: 1999/2000. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9784431683803.
- ^ a b c Broadbent, Jeffrey; Brockman, Vicky (2011-01-07). East Asian Social Movements: Power, Protest, and Change in a Dynamic Region. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9780387096261.
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