<P> Itai - itai disease ( イタイイタイ病 , itai - itai byō , `` it hurts - it hurts disease '' ) was the name given to the mass cadmium poisoning of Toyama Prefecture , Japan , starting around 1912 . The term `` itai - itai disease '' was coined by locals for the severe pains ( Japanese : 痛い itai ) victims felt in the spine and joints . Cadmium poisoning can also cause softening of the bones and kidney failure . The cadmium was released into rivers by mining companies in the mountains , which were successfully sued for the damage . Itai - itai disease is known as one of the Four Big Pollution Diseases of Japan . A similar thing is Onsan illness . </P>
itai-itai disease was a form of poisoning associated with ingestion of
cadmium