Long-term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning at Miike coal mine: A 33-year follow-up study

Koichi Mimura; Masazumi Harada; Shiro Sumiyoshi; Gyo Toya; Motoaki Takagi; Eisuke Fujita; Akira Takata; Seijun Tatetsu

doi:10.22462/01.01.2023.40

Long-term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning at Miike coal mine: A 33-year follow-up study

Undersea Hyperb Med. 2023 Second Quarter;50(2):111-143. doi: 10.22462/01.01.2023.40.

Authors

Koichi Mimura¹, Masazumi Harada², Shiro Sumiyoshi³, Gyo Toya⁴, Motoaki Takagi⁵, Eisuke Fujita¹, Akira Takata⁶, Seijun Tatetsu⁷

Affiliations

¹ Jougasaki Hospital.
² Institute of Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University School of Medicine.
³ Kikuchi National Hospital.
⁴ Toya Hospital.
⁵ Arao-Udo Hospital.
⁶ Department of Neurosurgery, Mitsui Omuta Hospital.
⁷ Former Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kumamoto University School of Medicine.

PMID: 37302076
DOI: 10.22462/01.01.2023.40

Abstract

On November 9, 1963, a coal dust explosion occurred at the Miike Mikawa Coal Mine (Omuta, Kyushu Region of Japan). This resulted in a massive release of carbon monoxide (CO) gas that resulted in 458 fatalities and 839 victims of CO poisoning. After the accident, the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kumamoto University School of Medicine (including the authors) immediately began to conduct periodic medical examinations of the victims. Such a long-term follow up of so many CO-poisoned patients is globally unprecedented. When the Miike Mine was closed in March of 1997, 33 years after the disaster, we conducted the final follow-up study.

Keywords: MRI; Miike coal mine; carbon monoxide poisoning; coal dust explosion; long-term prognosis follow-up study.

MeSH terms

Accidents, Occupational
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning*
Coal Mining*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans

Substances

Carbon Monoxide