CASE STUDIES

AIR POLLUTION

1. THE TAJ TRAPEZIUM CASE(Mc MEHTA Vs UNION OF INDIA):

SOURCERS OF DAMAGE:

Industries, Refinery at Mathura, Brick kilns emission.

CHEMICAL:

SO3 emitted combines with Oxygen and moisture forming sulphuric acid, called
Acid rain.

EFFECT:

Corrodes the clean white marble, results in decay of marble and yellow pallon
affects the entire monument.

ACTION:

Judgement applied the “precautionary principle in May 1999”.

2. K

SOURCE:

Union Carbide India ltd in Bhopal, MP on 3rd December 1984.

CHEMICAL:

Methyl Iso Cynate (MIC) reactor exploded due to failure of its cooling system
and 40 tons leaked.

EFFECTS:

A lower concentration affects lungs and eyes, irritation in the skin. Higher
concentration removes Oxygen from the lungs and leads to death.

DAMAGE:

Spread over 40 Sq.Km area. 5000 persons were killed, 65000 people were
affected by severe respiratory disorder, 1000 people became blind.

WATER POLLUTION
 1. WEST BENGAL, BIHAR SEVERELY CONTAMINATED BY ARSENIC:
SOURCES:

Over use of Lead arsenate and Copper arsenate as pesticides in summer on

paddy and jute crops.

EFFECTS:

White or black spots on the skin called Melanons, bladder and lung cancer,
children affected by Arsenicosis.

DAMAGE:

380 Million Residents in Ganga basin are affected.

2. PALAR RIVER POLLUTION:

SOURCES:

Chrome Tanning Industries

CHEMICALS:

Chromium, Calcium, Ammonium salts, organic dyes and Acids.

EFFECTS:

Supplies water for several municipalities but polluted by effluent of leather

industries which affects agriculture in 40000 hectares of croplands.

INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION:

SOURCES:

500 Dying units, 195 bleaching units in Tirupur.

EFFECTS:

Affects surface and underground water effluent also increase the pH of soil.
River like Noyyal and Cauvery are affected.

ACTION:

Tamilnadu pollution Control Board has directed not to allow effluents to mix
into the river systems.
FLOODS:

Flood in Bangladesh-1974 DURATION:

Stagnated for more than one month.

EFFECTS:

1500 People died, 280000 were died from disease and starvation 450000
houses destroyed and 35 million lost their belongings.

CYCLONE:

Cyclone in Orrisa-1999

SOURCE:

Two cyclone storms with a wind velocity of 260 Km/Hr.

EFFECTS:

14/30 Districts faced severe damage. 15 Million People were affected.

9095% crop yield were affected. 1500 local schools were affected.

LANSLIDES:

Landslide in Uttar Pradesh-1998 PLACE:

Malpa village, Pithoragraph district, 18th august 1998.

EFFECTS:

180 People including 60 pilgrims and 8 Indo-Tibet border police were

killed.

EARTHQUAKE:

1. PLACE : Chile, may 22nd 1960

MAGNITUDE : 9.5 Richter scale

EFFECT : 90000 Sq.miles killing 60000 people

2. PLACE : Bhuj Town in Gujarat

MAGNITUDE : 6.3 Richter scale
 EFFECT : 20000-30000 People were killed

3. PLACE : Iran-1971
EFFECT : 25000 in 1971, 50000 in 1990 and many 1000’s in 2003

TSUNAMI:

PLACE:

Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean on 26th December 2004.

REASON:

Marine Earthquake under the ocean, 8.9 on Richter scale in Indonesia.

EFFECTS:

7950 Deaths in TN, 580 deaths in Pondy, 170 in Kerala, 105 in AP and 6050 in
Nagapattinam(TN)

MARINE POLLUTION:

GULF WAR:

SOURCE:

Gulf war between Iraq and USA.

PLACE:

Kuwait; Jan 16- Feb 26 in 1991 CAUSE:

1700 Oil wells set fire. Oil spill covered sea water nearly 80 Km long and 25
Km wide. Burning for 10 months, release of CO2 and SO2.

EFFECTS:

1 Million Birds were killed, desalination of plants infective

MINIAMATTA EPIDEMIC(1953):

SOURCE:

The Chisso Chemical Company.

CHEMICAL:
 Methyl Mercury.

CAUSE:

Effluent containing mercury is converted into methyl mercury. Bio

magnification.

EFFECTS:

Loss of vision and hearing, loss of muscular Co-ordination and severe

headache, nervous disorders.

CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER:

SOURCE:

Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor in Russia.

CAUSE:

Leaked Radio active rays and materials.

DATE: April 26, 1986

EFFECTS:

2000 People were killed, illness like degeneration of cells, bleeding,

anaemia, skin cancer. Animals and Plants are also affected.