S Y D N E Y H A L E S

BHOPAL DISASTER

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

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 Bhopal1984 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/PMC114

2333/• http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/why-t

he-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