The Bhopal Gas Disaster is considered one of the world’s worst industrial incidents. In December of 1984, a defective tank from the U.S.-owned Union Carbide Company began leaking 42 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas into its surrounding environment. Hundreds of thousands of individuals were exposed to high concentrations of MIC gas due to the chemical plant’s storage tanks’ poorly-designed safety systems.
The chemical leak led to both short and long-term negative health consequences in exposed populations, including respiratory problems, impaired vision, and corneal abrasion. The disaster was exacerbated by insufficient emergency management and alarm systems, inadequate communication, and poorly designed sewage systems.
After the incident occurred, little was done to monitor the health status of its survivors and the mortality rate is still unknown. Shelagh’s presentation offers an overview and an in-depth analysis of this catastrophic event’s cause and effects.