CASE STUDY ON BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY

INTRODUCTION • Bhopal Disaster took place in the early morning of December 3, 1984. It was

due to the release of 27 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from Union Carbide India, Limited pesticide plant which is owned by Union Carbide.

• The death toll in Bhopal Disaster reached a great height and till date many still suffers from illness caused due to the disaster.

The majority of deaths and serious injuries were due to pulmonary edema. Signs and symptoms of such exposure normally include cough, chest pain, lacrimation, eyelid edema, and unconsciousness. These over the next 24 to 72 hours may cause acute lung injury, cardiac arrest, and death.

Facts leading to the Bhopal Disaster was never exposed by the company, but blood and viscera of some victims claims cherry-red color characteristic of acute cyanide poisoning. Bhopal Disaster is still witnessing many of the survivors suffering from partial or complete blindness, persistent respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal problems, impaired immune systems, post-traumatic stress. An increase in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and offspring with

genetic disorders are also predominant.

The chemical accident in Bhopal Gas Tragedy was caused by the entry of water into methyl isocyanide holding tank. The resulting reaction gave rise to a major increase in the temperature of liquid within the tank (to over 200°C). This then produced a large volume of toxic gas, making the emergency release of pressure.

Bhopal Disaster is one of the worst happenings that the history has ever witnessed. Those who could survive the immediate death have become the prey to long lingering effects which is even more intolerable. The incident should be a lesson to the humanity.

CAUSES OF THIS TRAGEDY• On December 3rd, 1984, thousands of people in Bhopal, India, were gassed to

death after a catastrophic chemical leak at a Union Carbide pesticide plant. More than 150,000 people were left severely disabled of whom 22,000 or more have since died of their injuries - in a disaster now widely acknowledged as the world’s worst-ever industrial disasterMore than 27 tons of methylisocyanate & other deadly gases turned Bhopal into a gas chamber.

• None of the six safety systems at the plant were functional, and Union Carbide’s own documents prove the company designed the plant with “unproven” and “untested” technology, and cut corners on safety and maintenance in order to save money.Carbide is still killing in Bhopal. The chemicals that Carbide abandoned in and around their Bhopal factory have contaminated the drinking water of 20,000 people. Testing published in a 2002 report revealed poisons such as 1,3,5 trichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, lead and mercury in the breast milk of nursing women living near the factory.

• Death came out of a clear sky. Midnight, a cold wind blowing, the stars brilliant as they are in central India, even through the thin pall of cooking-fire

smoke that hung above the city. Here and there, braziers were burning to warm those who were obliged to be out late. From the factory which so many had learned to fear, a thin plume of white vapor began streaming from a high structure. Caught by the wind, it became a haze and blew downward to mix with smokes coming from somewhere nearer to the ground. A dense fog formed. Nudged by the wind, it rolled across the road and into the alleys on the other side. Here the houses were packed close, ill-built, with badly-fitting doors and windows. Those within were roused in darkness to the sound of screams with the gases already in their eyes, noses and throats. It burned terribly, it felt like fire. In those apocalyptic moments no one knew what was happening. People simply started dying in the most hideous ways. Some vomited uncontrollably, went into convulsions and fell dead. Others choked to death, drowning in their own body fluids. Many were crushed in the stampedes through narrow gullies where street lamps burned a dim brown through clouds of gas. When dawn broke over the city, thousands of bodies lay in heaps in the streets.

EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH :-Respiratory Disorder:- Irritation to lungs, causing cough,

even causing asthma problems. Higher exposures caused build up of fluids causing pulmonary enema.

Cancer Hazards:- Caused Mutation (genetic changes) which caused cancer.

Reproductive hazards:-Association between exposures to Methlyisocynate & miscarriages .It may damage the growing fetus & fertility in men & women .

After Effect :- Traces of many toxic were found in breast milk & were in turn transmitted to recipients i.e. babies .

Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259. The government of Madhya Pradesh confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release.

REASONS :-Catastrophic failures in process

control