Bhopal is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. It is well known for its historical records, artificial lakes, and its amazing verdure.
Most of all, this city is vastly popular across the world for the worst industrial catastrophe that occurred 35 years ago.
Most of all, this city is vastly popular across the world for the worst industrial catastrophe that occurred 35 years ago.
A gas leakage engulfed the
city of Bhopal, killing thousands and maiming many residents of the city to this
day.
What Happened?
Nearly 40 metric tons of methyl isocyanate otherwise known as MIC, was released from a Union Carbide pesticide plant. This occurred on the night of December 2nd till December 3rd of 1984.
The leakage had taken place at Plant Number C of the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. The night breeze that picked up the pace, bore itself with poisonous gas that was leaking from the Union Carbide factory overwhelming the city and residents of Bhopal. The deadly gas murdered both the awake and asleep. According to a testimony given by the government, approximately 3000 people died.
The leakage had taken place at Plant Number C of the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. The night breeze that picked up the pace, bore itself with poisonous gas that was leaking from the Union Carbide factory overwhelming the city and residents of Bhopal. The deadly gas murdered both the awake and asleep. According to a testimony given by the government, approximately 3000 people died.
Cause:
Based on official records,
methyl isocyanate (MIC) got infused with water that was used to cool the plant.
This particular mixture of compounds led to the generation of volumes of gases
that put a colossal amount of pressure in the Tank E610.
Eventually, due to the
accumulation of enormous gaseous pressure the cover of the tank gave way, spewing out the deadly poisonous gas which overwhelmed about a 7-kilometer
radius from the plant and affected approximately 200,000 of Bhopal’s population.
Some years after the
tragedy, the Union Carbide Corporation filed in a scientific and legal
investigative report stating that the cause of this tremendous disaster was
sabotage. The UCC investigation proved that the disaster was in fact caused by
the direct entry of water into the Tank E610 through a hose that was connected
to the tank.
Effect:
The initial effects of
exposure to this deadly gas were a cough, severe eye irritation and suffocation,
a burning sensation in the respiratory tract, shortness of breath, stomach aches
and vomiting. The primary causes of death were choking, reflexogenic
circulatory collapse and pulmonary edema which was caused by the inhalation of
the lethal poisonous gas.
It is estimated that over
100,000 to 200,000 residents have permanent injuries. The reported mishaps that
followed were birth defects among children born to affected women,
respiratory difficulties, cardiac failure secondary to lung injury, immune and
neurological disorders.
The wildlife surrounding
Bhopal were also affected by the lethal poisonous gas and an extensive number
of animals were found dead and needed to be removed before further
contamination could occur.
Post-Leakage:
Residents who turned to
hospitals were unaware that the doctors who were present in Bhopal were clueless
to a situation like this. The doctors had a lack of knowledge of this gas and
the symptoms of methyl isocyanate exposure were not immediately identified.
Based on reports, the two
hospitals in Bhopal treated an approximate amount of 50,000 patients. Official
reports state that the leakage was contained within 8 hours but Bhopal, to this
day, has not recovered and are feeling its permanent effects.
According to Human Rights
Groups, thousands of tons of hazardous waste remain buried underground, and the
government has conceded the area to be contaminated. There have been no known
reported researches to conclusively prove that birth defects are directly related
to the drinking of the contaminated water.
Till this very day, the
deadly effects of methyl isocyanate are felt all across Bhopal. It has affected
the second and third generation of Bhopal's residents.
Methyl Isocyanate is an
organic compound with the molecular formula of CH3NCO. It is an intermediate chemical in the production of carbamate pesticides such as carbaryl, carbofuran and methomyl. As a highly toxic irritant, it is extremely hazardous to human health. Methyl Isocyanate is colourless, poisonous, lachrymatory and flammable. This compound is extremely toxic and its threshold limit is set at 0.02 ppm by the American Conference on Government Industrial Hygienists. Exposure by inhalation, ingestion and contact in quantities as low as 0.04 ppm would be considered toxic. Exposure symptoms includes coughing, chest pain, dyspnea, asthma, eye, nose and throat irritation and skin damage as well. At higher levels of exposure, over 21 ppm, the severe results are pulmonary edema, hemorrhages, bronchial pneumonia and death. Storage of this compound is to be taken seriously and with utmost care. Stainless glass or glass containers may be safely used and is to be stored at temperatures below 40 degrees, preferably at 4 degrees.
References & Pictures:
It truly was a tragedy. Still in shock about the amount of lives that were affected - 200 000 is an extremely large number.
ReplyDeleteHeard of this incident before but never realise how serious it is
ReplyDelete