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In the early morning hours of December 3,
1984, a holding tank with 43 tonnes of stored MIC overheated and
released toxic heavier-than-air MIC gas mixture, which rolled along the
ground through the surrounding streets. According to the Bhopal Medical
Appeal, around 500,000 people were exposed to the leaking tables.
Approximately 20,000, to this date, are believed to have died as a
result; on average, roughly one person dies every day from the effects.
Over 120,000 continue to suffer from the effects of the disaster, such
as breathing difficulties, cancer, serious birth-defects, blindness,
gynecological complications and other related problems.
The majority of deaths and serious injuries were related to pulmonary edema, but the gas caused a wide variety of other ailments. Signs and symptoms of methyl isocyanate exposure normally include coughing, dyspnea, chest pain, lacrimation, eyelid edema, and unconsciousness. These effects might progress over the next 24 to 72 hours to include acute lung injury, cardiac arrest, and death. Because of the hypothesized reactions that took place within
the storage tank and in the surrounding atmosphere, it is thought that apart from MIC, phosgene, and hydrogen cyanide along with other poisonous gases all played a significant role in this disaster. The Union Carbide India, Limited (UCIL) plant was established in 1969 and had expanded to produce carbaryl in 1979; MIC is an intermediate in carbaryl manufacture.
The chemical accident was caused by the introduction of water into methyl isocyanide holding tank E610, due to slip-blind water isolation plates being excluded from an adjacent tank's maintenance procedure. The resulting reaction generated a major increase in the temperature of liquid inside the tank (to over 200°C). The MIC holding tank then gave off a large volume of toxic gas, forcing the emergency release of pressure.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_Disaster
The majority of deaths and serious injuries were related to pulmonary edema, but the gas caused a wide variety of other ailments. Signs and symptoms of methyl isocyanate exposure normally include coughing, dyspnea, chest pain, lacrimation, eyelid edema, and unconsciousness. These effects might progress over the next 24 to 72 hours to include acute lung injury, cardiac arrest, and death. Because of the hypothesized reactions that took place within
the storage tank and in the surrounding atmosphere, it is thought that apart from MIC, phosgene, and hydrogen cyanide along with other poisonous gases all played a significant role in this disaster. The Union Carbide India, Limited (UCIL) plant was established in 1969 and had expanded to produce carbaryl in 1979; MIC is an intermediate in carbaryl manufacture.
The chemical accident was caused by the introduction of water into methyl isocyanide holding tank E610, due to slip-blind water isolation plates being excluded from an adjacent tank's maintenance procedure. The resulting reaction generated a major increase in the temperature of liquid inside the tank (to over 200°C). The MIC holding tank then gave off a large volume of toxic gas, forcing the emergency release of pressure.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_Disaster
Aa Roju Ratri Yem Jarigindante....is a Telugu translation of 'It was Five Past Midnight in Bhopal' by Dominique La Pierrie and Xaviour Moro. Telugu version was brought out by Kasturi of Srama Jeevi Prachuranalu, Hyderabad. This book is now available to Vikasa Dhatri readers in e-book format for free download.
Those who are interested in ordering a hard copy may
write to Shrama Jeevi Prachuranalu, 2-2-1121/3E, Nallakunta, Hyderabad.
Pages: 320
Price: Rs.100
Labels: Development, Environment, Law
Ph: 9440994244 e-mail: vikasadhatri@vikasadhatri.org