Hybrid Causation: Itai Itai disease

Hybrid Causation: Itai Itai disease

The history of Japan is scarred by many catastrophic events caused by industrial pollution which resulted in the deaths of several thousands of innocent victims. Japan is well known for its rapid and tremendous progress in industrialization process; however, the pains, sacrifices and hardships suffered by Japanese citizens are often neglected in the discussion of Japanese modernization. The drive of the Japanese state which enabled Japan to catch-up to the rival countries of West and the economic transition of the Japanese nation from feudalism to a economic super power has a darkened side. The contributions of efforts, pain, sacrifices and sufferings of Japanese population caused the modernization and industrialization in Japan but it also indelibly altered the natural environment of Japan causing catastrophic level of industrial pollution, scarred landscapes, and insects resistive to pesticides. The impact of industrialization and the associated industrial pollution on the health of the Japanese citizens stresses the role played by nonhuman nature in the era of modern technological advancements as discussed by Brett Walker (2009), simplistic and reductionist explanations cannot be used for assessing of the cause and impacts of industrial pollution on human health. The phenomenon of industrial pollution is in fact a product of several complex hybrid causal factors.

The “Hybrid Causation Model” discussed by Walker helps in the development of an understanding of health and environmental impacts. Hybrid causation provides an insight to the consequences of unregulated mining practices and exposure to the heavy metals, and the pertaining diseases. Earth, being a hybrid environment involves complex ecological pathways linking the industries to the human consumers. This model emphasizes that modern industrial development cannot be considered as sole causal factor of the widespread of industrial revolution and increase in toxicity level of the environment; however, some ...