Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The leakage of 27 tonnes of deadly methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from the pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide Corporation in Bhopal 38 years ago is still wreaking havoc on the city. The latest is the spike in incidences of fungal infection among survivors, according to the Sambhavna Trust.

About the Bhopal Gas Tragedy

• Post-midnight on December 3, 1984, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) (Chemical formula- CH3NCO or C2H3NO) leaked from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals), an MNC, in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal.
• It is estimated that about 40 tonnes of gas and other chemicals leaked from the Union Carbide factory.
• Methyl isocyanate is extremely toxic gas and if its concentration in the air touches 21ppm (parts per million), it can cause death within minutes of inhaling the gas.
• It is one of the worst chemical disasters globally and still continues to have its ill effects on the people of the affected areas.
• After the tragedy, the government of India enacted a Public Liability Insurance Act (1991), making it mandatory for industries to get insurance the premium for this insurance would contribute to an Environment Relief Fund to provide compensation to victims of a Bhopal-like disaster.

About Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)

• Methyl isocyanate is a colourless highly flammable liquid that evaporates quickly when exposed to the air. It has a sharp, strong odour.
• It is used in the production of pesticides, polyurethane foam, and plastics.
• The chemical is highly reactive to heat. When exposed to water, the compounds in MIC react with each other causing a heat reaction.
• Immediate health effects include ulcers, photophobia, respiratory issues, anorexia, persistent abdominal pain, genetic issue, neuroses, impaired audio and visual memory, impaired reasoning ability, and a lot more.
• Long-term health effects include chronic conjunctivitis, decreased lung function, increased pregnancy loss, increased infant mortality, increased chromosomal abnormalities, impaired associate learning and more.

About Fungal Infection

• The fungal infections will add to the long list of illnesses already present among survivors. 
• These include problems with the respiratory tract, neurological system, psychological problems, increased incidences of cancer, blindness, birth defects and growth impairments.
• The illnesses are due to the accumulation of toxic material in the soil and groundwater over the years after the leakage that had instantly killed over 3,000 people.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research had projected that till 2009, 23,000 deaths may have occurred, but the numbers vary and are a topic of debate.
• Ringworm disease, caused by a fungus called tinea, is on the rise.
• Red itchy patches occur in the groin, on the head or in different places of the body. The rash spreads if left untreated.
• Yeast infection candida albicans is also being reported to the Sambhavna Clinic by female survivors.

Question: Discuss the safety initiatives taken in India to address chemical risk under National Disaster Management Authority.