NIKHIL MEHLA ABHISHEK JAIN NAMAN SHARMA

THE BHOPAL DISASTER Around 1 a.m. on Monday, the 3rd of December, 1984, In the city of Bhopal, Central India, a poisonous vapour burst from the tall stacks of the Union Carbide pesticide plant. This vapour was a highly toxic cloud of methyl isocyanate. 2,000 died immediately 300,000 were injured 7,000 animals were injured, of which about one thousand were killed. THE AFFECTED AREA

Union Carbide Corporation  Started in 1969 in Bhopal  Phosgene, Monomethlyamine, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) and the pesticide Carbonyl, also known as Sevin.  Taken over by DOW Chemicals in  DOW refused Union Carbide’s Liabilities in Bhopal, India.

THE WEATHER EGGED ON THE PROCESS…  The high moisture content (aerosol) in the discharge when evaporating, gave rise to a heavy gas which rapidly sank to the ground.  A weak wind which frequently changed direction, which in turn helped the gas to cover more area in a shorter period of time (about one hour).  The weak wind and the weak vertical turbulence caused a slow dilution of gas and thus allowed the poisonous gas to spread over considerable distances.

 One of the main reasons for the tragedy was found to be a result of a combination of human factors and an incorrectly designed safety system.  A portion of the safety equipment at the plant had been non-operational for four months and the rest failed. THE POSSIBLE REASONS…

Aftermath of the leakage  Medical staff were unprepared for the thousands of casualties  Doctors and hospitals were not informed of proper treatment methods for MIC gas inhalation. They were told to simply give cough medicine and eye drops to their patients  The gases immediately caused visible damage to the trees. Within a few days, all the leaves fell off  2,000 bloated animal carcasses had to be disposed of  "Operation Faith": On December 16, the tanks 611 and 619 were emptied of the remaining MIC. This led to a second mass evacuation from Bhopal  Complaints of a lack of information or misinformation were widespread. The Bhopal plant medical doctor did not have proper information about the properties of the gases. An Indian Government spokesman said that "Carbide is more interested in getting information from us than in helping our relief work.

Short term health effects  The leakage caused many short term health effects in the surrounding areas  The gas cloud was composed mainly of materials denser than the surrounding air, stayed close to the ground and spread outwards through the surrounding community.  The initial effects of exposure were coughing, vomiting, severe eye irritation and a feeling of suffocation.  Thousands of people had succumbed by the morning hours. There were mass funerals and mass cremations as well as disposal of bodies in the Narmada river. 170,000 people were treated at hospitals and temporary dispensaries. 2,000 buffalo, goats, and other animals were collected and buried.  A total of 36 wards were marked by the authorities as being "gas affected", affecting a population of 520,000. Of these, 200,000 were below 15 years of age, and 3,000 were pregnant women. In 1991, 3,928 deaths had been certified. Independent organizations recorded 8,000 dead in the first days. Other estimations vary between 10,000 and 30,000. Another 100,000 to 200,000 people are estimated to have permanent injuries of different degrees. [ [

Long term health effects  It is estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people have permanent injuries.  Reported symptoms are eye problems, respiratory difficulties, immune and neurological disorders, cardiac failure secondary to lung injury, female reproductive difficulties and birth defects among children born to affected women. The Indian Government and UCC deny permanent injuries were caused by MIC or the other gases.

“ A disgruntled plant employee, apparently bent on spoiling a batch of methyl isocyanate, added water to a storage tank” B. Browning Jackson (Vice President) UNION CARBIDE’S VERSION..

 Respiratory Disorders – Irritation to the lungs, causing coughing and/or shortness of breathing. Higher exposure caused build up of fluids (pulmonary edema). Caused Asthama.  Cancer Hazard – Caused mutation (genetic changes). It caused cancer.  Reproductive Hazard – Association between exposure to Methyl Isocyanate and miscarriages. It may damage the growing fetus.May also affect fertility in men and women.  Traces of many toxins were found in the Brest Milk of mothers and were inturn transmitted to the recepient babies. Effects on Human Health

Compensation and Legal Aspects  Compensation of $470 million ($500 per dead).  Twenty years of passiveness.  Case was reviewed and put up in American Court.  DOW Refused Union Carbide’s Liabilities in Bhopal, India.

LAPSES ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT  The Madhya Pradesh State government had not mandated any safety standards.  Union Carbide failed to implement its own safety rules.  The Bhopal plant experienced six accidents between 1981 and 1984, at least three of which involved MIC or phosgene.

WHY DID THE PEOPLE STAY QUITE??  The country needed pesticides to protect her agricultural production  MIC is used to produce pesticides that control insects which would in turn, help increase production of food as a part of India’s GREEN REVOLUTION.  Initially, India imported the MIC from the United States.  In an attempt to achieve industrial self-sufficiency, India invited Union Carbide to set up a plant in the state of Madhya Pradesh to produce methyl isocyanate.  To the people of the city of Bhopal, Union Carbide was a highly respected, technically advanced Western company.  This coupled with political power and scientific expertise worked together to changed the people’s perception of what was dangerous and more importantly what was safe.

LAPSES ON PART OF UNION CARBIDE  Improper design of chimneys (without consideration of weather conditions in all seasons)  Improper design and maintenance of safety equipment.  Not following safety regulations as that followed by UCC plants in USA.  Decision to neglect a flare system in need of repair.  Inadequate emergency planning and community awareness.  Lack of awareness of the potential impact of MIC on the community by the people operating the plant.  Inadequate community planning, allowing a large population to live near a hazardous manufacturing plant.

Basic Green Chemistry Principles  These principles would have averted the disaster.  Eliminate or reduce the production of Hazardous chemicals.  Hazardous chemicals produced should not be stored and should be consumed in the course of the reaction.  The inventory of Hazardous chemicals if inevitable should be of many small containers and not of one large container.

Conclusion  The Bhopal gas tragedy could have been averted.  There were lapses on part of the government and UCC.  The actual reason for the tragedy is contrary to popular belief.  An alternate way to produce carbaryl was suggested.  Design of Inherently safer process was required.

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