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ë At midnight Dec 3, 1984, at the Union Carbide

pesticide plant in Bhopal, water entered the tank
610, containing 43 tonnes of methyl isocyanate
(MIC). A run away reaction started.

ë 520,000 or more people were exposed to the gases,

of whom 200,000 were below 15 years of age and
3,000 pregnant mothers.

ë Most likely, 8,000 died during the first weeks.

ë It is estimated that more than 100,000 have

permanent injuries.
 Ô 
ë Bhopal, in the middle
of India, is the capital
of Madhya
Pradesh, and a railway
junction.
ë In 1984, it had 700,000
inhabitants. Today,
there
are
about 1.2 millions.
Most of the safety systems were
out of function at the night of
Dec 3, 1984.
The Disaster

ë The gas aerosol spread over the densely

populated area and was felt far away
from the plant.
The disaster
ë 9.00 PM Water
cleaning of pipes start.
ë 10.00 PM Water enters
610. Reaction starts.
ë 11.30 PM Gases coming
out from the VGS-
tower.
ë 12.30 AM The large
siren sounds and is
turned off.
ë 12.50 AM The siren is
heard within the plant
area. The workers
escape.
Content of gases

ë Methyl isocyanide (MIC) reacts with

water to form mono methylamine
(MMA) and carbon dioxide (CO2 )
ë Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) blocks the
oxygen receptors and is extremely toxic
ë Phosgene was used as a war gas during
World War I
ë Carbon monoxide (CO) is toxic
ë Nitrogen oxides (NOx ) causes lung
injuries
ë All gases were heavier than air and
thus replaced oxygen
The cloud contained a mixture of
substances. Concentrations were
higher close to the plant. The gases
were heavier than air, displacing
oxygen.
Outside plant
ë 11.30 PM First sensations. Suffocation, cough, eyes,
ë vomiting.
ë 1.00 AM Police alerted. People escaped.
ë UC-director denied.
ë 2.00 AM The first reached Hamidia hospital.
ë Half blind, gasping for air, frothing at the
ë mouth, vomiting.
ë 2.10 AM The alarm was heard.
ë 4.00 AM The gases reduced.
ë 6.00 AM The police's loudspeaker: everything is
ë normal.
Previous warnings and
accidents
ë In 1976, the two trade unions reacted because of
pollution within the plant.
ë In Jan 1982, there was a phosgene leak, when 24
workers were exposed and had to be admitted to
hospital.
ë In Feb 1982, an MIC leak affected 18 workers.
ë In Aug 1982, a chemical engineer came into
contact with liquid MIC, resulting in burns over
30 percent of his body.
ë In Oct 1982, there was a leak of MIC,
methylcarbaryl chloride, chloroform and
hydrochloric acid.
ë During 1983 and 1984, leaks of the following
substances regularly took place in the MIC plant.
 Next day
ë Thousands of dead
bodies on the streets.
Everyone on the
railway station died.
ë The corpses were
collected and dumped
into Narmada river,
mass funerals, mass
cremation.
ë 2 000 buffaloes, goats
etc dead. Collected,
buried.
 Next day««
ë 170,000 were treated
at hospitals and temporary
dispensaries.
ë 700 doctors, 250 nurses, 870
others.
ë The health care staff became
exposed to the gases.
ë Stop at 550 registered dead.
ë UC·s doctor: µIt is like tear
gas.µ
 èong term effects
ë Eyes
ë Respiratory system
ë Cardiac failure secondary
to lung injury
ë Immune system
ë Neurological system
ë Psychological effects
ë Women·s reproductive
health
ë Genetics
ë General over morbidity
 èate effects
ë èate cases that
might never be
highlighted
ë respiratory
insufficiency
ë cardiac
insufficiency
ë cancer
ë tuberculosis
ë Dead rates
ë People Killed by
gas leak: 20,000
ë No of people
affected: 5.56
lakh
ë Average
compensation:
just Rs 12,410.
Down the years.
ë O
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Charges against Warren Anderson
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area around the plant

In some areas, where the water is

extremely polluted, the GOMP provides
drinking water in tanks.
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