Talking about pollution, we can't deny that various pollutions related to air, water and soil problem that happen around us are caused by the irresponsible human activities. However, it could be worse if the pollution occurs not only threatens the environment but also threatens human life.
if you know, the Bhopal gas tragedy that happened in Bhopal, India thirty years ago could be recognized as one of the worst industrial tragedy ever happened in the world. The gas leak tragedy has occurred on the night of December 2, 1984, at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, which released at least 30 tons of a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate, as well as several other poisonous gases. The pesticide plant was surrounded by shanty towns, leading to more than 600,000 people being exposed to the deadly gas cloud that night. The gases stayed low to the ground, causing victims' throats and eyes to burn, inducing nausea, and many deaths. Estimates of the death toll vary from as few as 3,800 to as many as 16,000, but government figures now refer to an estimate of 15,000 killed over the years. Toxic material remains, and 30 years later, many of those who were exposed to the gas have given birth to physically and mentally disabled children.
How it happen ?
The disaster happened because water entered a tank containing Methyl isocyanate. This caused a chemical reaction which resulted in the buildup of much Carbon dioxide, among other things.
The resulting reaction increased the temperature inside the tank to reach over 200 °C (392 °F). The pressure was more than the tank was built to withstand.
The tank had valves to control the pressure. These were triggered in an emergency, which reduced the pressure.
As a result, large amounts of toxic gases were released into the environment. The pipes were rusty. The rust in the iron pipes made the reaction faster. All the contents of the tank were released within a period of about two hours.
Some factors led to the tragedy :
- The use of hazardous chemicals (MIC) instead of less dangerous ones
- Storing these chemicals in large tanks instead of over 200 steel drums.
- Possible corroding material in pipelines
- Poor maintenance after the plant ceased production in the early 1980s
- Failure of several safety systems (due to poor maintenance and regulations).
- Safety systems shut down to save money - including the MIC tank refrigeration system which alone would have prevented the disaster.
- Plant design modifications by Indian engineers to abide by government regulations and economic pressures to reduce expenses.
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