BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY : Revisited After TwentyNine Years.
Presentation Submitted to Prof.Sonali Rodrigues
Union Carbide Corporation
Team Members
Sr.No 1 2 3 4 Name Jerry Dmello Allen lopes Staynel Rodriguez 39 16 Roll No
Asha Tilwani
40
Flow of the Presentation
Background
DECEMBER 3, 1984: Shortly after midnight, poison gas leaked from a factory in Bhopal, India, owned by Union Carbide Corporation. There was no warning; none of the plant's safety systems were working. In the city people were sleeping. They woke in darkness to the sound of screams with the gases burning their eyes, noses and mouths. Within hours thousands of dead bodies lay in the streets. Twenty Nine years after the pollution episode, contamination continues to kill people in India Third generation affected
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The Bhopal gas tragedy was the greatest industrial disaster in the world that took place at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in the Indian city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
The plant accidentally released methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas, exposing more than 500,000 people to MIC and other chemicals.
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Some 26 years after the gas leak, 390 tonnes of toxic chemicals abandoned at the Union Carbide plant continue to pollute the ground water in the region and affects thousands residents of Bhopal who depend on it
Issue
During the night of December 23, 1984, large amounts of water entered tank 610, containing 42 tonnes of methyl isocyanate. The resulting reaction increased the temperature inside the tank, raising the pressure to a level the tank was not designed to withstand. Which forced the emergency venting of pressure from the MIC holding tank, releasing a large volume of toxic gases. A mixture of poisonous gases flooded the city of Bhopal, causing great panic as people woke up with a burning sensation in their lungs. Thousands died immediately from the effects of the gas and many were trampled in the panic.
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The gas cloud composed 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.
People awakened by these symptoms fled away from the plant. 8,000-10,000 died within 72 hours and 25,000 have since died
from gas-related diseases.
THE POSSIBLE CAUSES
MIC was not stored at zero degree centigrade as prescribed and the refrigeration and cooling systems had been shut down five months before the disaster, as part of UCCs global economy drive. The scientific reason for the accident was that water entered the tank where about 40 cubic meters of MIC was stored.
When water and MIC mixed, an exothermic chemical reaction
started, producing a lot of heat.
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As part of UCCs drive to cut costs, the work force in the Bhopal factory was brought down by half from 1980 to 1984.
This had serious consequences on safety and maintenance. The size of the work crew for the MIC plant was cut in half from twelve to six workers... MIC in the tank was filled to 87% of its capacity while the maximum permissible was 50%.
Tank containing methyl isocyanate
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As a result, the safety valve of the tank burst because of the increase in pressure. It is presumed that between 20 and 30 tonnes of MIC were
released during the hour that the leak took place.
The gas leaked from a 30 m high chimney and this height was not enough to reduce the effects of the discharge
THE OTHER POSSIBLE REASONS
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 nonoperational for four months and the rest failed.
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.
Haphazard dumping of Hazardous Material
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 AFFECTED AREA
LAPSES ON THE PART OF THE GOVT.
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 Indias 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.
Impact on Society
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. Within a few days, leaves on trees yellowed and fell off.
Effects on Human Health
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.
Bodies of Victims Pile Up After The Tragedy
A Photograph which Symbolizes The Tragedy
Animal Slaughter
Effects on Environment
Poisonous chemical waste lying around in the abandoned premises of the pesticide plant. Several committees have inspected it and found 44,000 kgs of tarry residues and 25,000 kgs of alpha naphthol lying in the open since 1984 Various studies have established that the soil, ground water & vegetables have traces of toxic chemicals
Compensation and Legal Aspects
Supreme Court directed UCC to pay Compensation of $470 million (Rs 10,000per dead or $ 500 per dead) Companys stock soared in the London Market. Analysts felt that the BGD was settled for a mere US $ 470 Million In the same year US Govt. spent $40000 for the rehabilitation of every sea otter affected by the Alaska oil spill. Each sea otter was given rations of lobsters costing US $ 500 per day The life of an Indian citizen in Bhopal was clearly much cheaper than that of a sea otter in America DOW Refused Union Carbides Liabilities in Bhopal, India.
CLAIM AND COMPENSATION
Total cases registered : Number of decided cases: Number of awarded cases: Number of rejected cases: Total compensation awarded : 10,29,517 10,29,517 574304 455213 Rs.1546.47 cr
Total compensation disbursed :
Rs.1545.97 cr
Steps taken by Govt of India
Industrial Training Institute have been established. Rs.400 cr has been earmarked for economic rehabilitation of gas victims. Widow pension was provided to widows of the gas related deaths @ Rs.200/- p.m. 2486 houses has been constructed and allotted to Kith & Kin of Gas victims diseased
ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION
Plantation of trees development of green belts and open areas childrens park construction of roads construction of sewage/drainage improvement of water supply schemes development of open land lighting of streets disposal of wastes etc.
Lessons Learnt
Local governments clearly cannot allow industrial facilities to be situated within urban areas, regardless of the evolution of land use over time. Industry and government need to bring proper financial support to local communities so they can provide medical and other necessary services to reduce mortality and material loss in the case of industrial accidents. Existing public health infrastructure needs to be taken into account when hazardous industries choose sites for manufacturing plants.
Conclusion
All the disasters that occurred in developed countries were neither due to the managerial operations nor due to the safety regulations. However these were the biggest component in the Bhopal gas tragedy as the management gave only lip service to process and personnel safety and the governments did not ensure compliance with the regulations. Elementary R&D is needed in the causes of accidents and in industrialized processes used in the chemical process industries.
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There is a need for the improvements in method of safety. New legislation, stricter enforcement and personnel training should be in place.
References
http://www.mp.gov.in/bgtrrdmp/profile.htm Journal by Pro. Denise Scheberle (University of Colorado Denver) Journal by Pro. Gupta
30,000 KILLED 120,000 SEVERELY AFFECTED And you thought only weapons could cause Mass Destruction
Thank you
