Research Bhopal Gas Tragedy
BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY
Presented by Swati Sudhakaran
Background of Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL)
• UCIL, built in 1969, which was the Indian subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), UCIL was owned 51% by Union Carbide Corporation and 49% of Indian investors which include Indian Government controlled banks and the Indian public holdings. In an attempt to achieve industrial self-sufficiency, India invited Union Carbide to set up a plant in the state of Madhya Pradesh to produce Methyl Iso -Cyanate (MIC) MIC is used to produce pesticides that control insects which would in turn, help increase production of food as a part of India’s “Green Revolution”. Initially, India imported MIC from the United States. UCIL mainly produced batteries, carbon products, welding equipment, plastics, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and marine products In 1994, UCC completed sale of its interest in UCIL to McLeod Russel Ltd. of Calcutta. The company was subsequently renamed Eveready Industry India Ltd. UCC was purchased by Dow Chemical in 2001
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The Accident
• • • Accident took place at a pesticide plant owned and operated by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India on December 3, 1984. Around 12 AM, the plant released Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) gas and other toxins, resulting in the exposure of over 520000 people. During the night of December 2–3, 1984, large amounts of water entered tank 610, containing 42 tonnes of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC).
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The resulting exothermic reaction increased the temperature inside the tank to over 200 °C (392 °F), raising the pressure to a level the tank was not designed to withstand. This forced the emergency venting of pressure from the MIC holding tank, releasing a large volume of toxic gases into the atmosphere. The reaction sped up because of the presence of iron in corroding non-stainless steel pipelines. A mixture of poisonous gases flooded the city of Bhopal, causing great panic
Presented by Swati Sudhakaran
Background of Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL)
• UCIL, built in 1969, which was the Indian subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), UCIL was owned 51% by Union Carbide Corporation and 49% of Indian investors which include Indian Government controlled banks and the Indian public holdings. In an attempt to achieve industrial self-sufficiency, India invited Union Carbide to set up a plant in the state of Madhya Pradesh to produce Methyl Iso -Cyanate (MIC) MIC is used to produce pesticides that control insects which would in turn, help increase production of food as a part of India’s “Green Revolution”. Initially, India imported MIC from the United States. UCIL mainly produced batteries, carbon products, welding equipment, plastics, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and marine products In 1994, UCC completed sale of its interest in UCIL to McLeod Russel Ltd. of Calcutta. The company was subsequently renamed Eveready Industry India Ltd. UCC was purchased by Dow Chemical in 2001
•
•
• •
•
•
The Accident
• • • Accident took place at a pesticide plant owned and operated by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India on December 3, 1984. Around 12 AM, the plant released Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) gas and other toxins, resulting in the exposure of over 520000 people. During the night of December 2–3, 1984, large amounts of water entered tank 610, containing 42 tonnes of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC).
•
The resulting exothermic reaction increased the temperature inside the tank to over 200 °C (392 °F), raising the pressure to a level the tank was not designed to withstand. This forced the emergency venting of pressure from the MIC holding tank, releasing a large volume of toxic gases into the atmosphere. The reaction sped up because of the presence of iron in corroding non-stainless steel pipelines. A mixture of poisonous gases flooded the city of Bhopal, causing great panic