Abstract
We studied the olfactory functions of organic mercury poisoning (Minamata disease) by using both the smell identification test and the olfactory detection threshold test (with phenyl ethyl alcohol). The subjects were 19 patients with Minamata disease who were treated in Meisuien, Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan and include cases that developed the disease in utero. The mean age was 78.7 ± 14.3 years old. Both smell identification and olfactory detection tests in the majority of patients decreased significantly compared with those of healthy elder subjects. A few cases showed normal olfactory identification and detection functions. The olfactory identification function deceased with advancing age. Correlation existed between detection threshold and background factors such as age and duration after documented Minamata disease was found. No significant relationship was identified between olfactory function and the typical symptoms of Minamata disease.
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