Bhopal Disaster Sydney Hales

Description Gas leakage at Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh It was on December 2nd, 1984 The Bhopal disaster is said to be the world’s worst industrial disaster

1984 World Press Photo of the Year description A large gas cloud covered over Bhopal and caused 8,00 people to be killed within the first few days (from cardiac and respiratory arrest) It is estimated that to this day, about 25,000 people have died due to the Bhopal disaster Chemicals such as methyl isocynate (40 tons) were exposed to the people of Bhopal 1984 World Press Photo of the Year

Biotic and abiotic Biotic: People (initial effects were coughing, vomiting, severe eye irritation) Plants Animals Abiotic: Atmosphere Water

Human aspect Recently, the House of Representatives approved a compromise chemical security bill that could help prevent Bhopal-like catastrophes at some the highest risk U.S. chemical plants. Union Carbide has worked to develop and globally implement its “Responsible Care” program, designed to prevent any future events through improving community awareness, emergency preparedness and process safety standards. The Environment Protection Act was passed in 1986, creating the Ministry of Environment and Forests and strengthening India's commitment to the environment.

Clean-up Eveready Industries India, Limited, ended clean-up on the site in 1998 due to the fact that there were so many chemicals that could not be fully cleaned up. Nearly 28 years later, toxic chemicals abandoned on the site are still contaminating the groundwater.

Today More than 20,000 people still live in the area of the factory and are exposed to toxic chemicals through groundwater and soil contamination. A whole new generation continues to get sick, from cancer and birth defects to everyday impacts of aches and pains, rashes, fevers, eruptions of boils, headaches, nausea, lack of appetite, dizziness, and constant exhaustion. The company has been providing aid for the last 20 years to those who were affected by the gas leakage

Sources http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/toxics/justice-for-bhopal/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1142333/ http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/why-the-bhopal-disaster-site-28-years-later-is-still-a-toxic-killer/india-bhopal-dow-contamination-toxic/c3s9764/#.UvqrptGYZtU http://indiatoday.intoday.in/gallery/bhopal-gas-tragedy-in-pics/1/3261.html#photo3