BOPAL GAS TRAGEDY

Question 1

Where and when it happened?

Answer 1

Bhopal india
December 3, 1984 (12:04 a.m)

Question 2

*was a diversified manufacturing company inc. in 1934.
* Situated in the central of
* It was built in 1969. It produces pesticide for use in india to help the country’s agricultural sector increase its productivity and contribute more significantly.

Answer 2

• Union Carbide India Limited
• Indian state of Madhya Pradesh
• Bhopal Plant

Question 3

• December 3, 1984 (12:04 a.m)
  *December 3, 1984 (12:20 a.m)
• December 4, 1894

Answer 3

*Gas Leak Occurs
* Malfunction pressure gauge
* Gas then spread to flare tower

Question 4

It was shutdown in june 1984 to save money. It is used to cool liquid MIC.

Answer 4

Refrigeration system

Question 5

Mic Storage Tanks

Answer 5

40 tones in E610, 15 tone in E611, E619 was empty. Water leaked into E610 causing runaway heat-producing reaction.

Question 6

Water curtain

Answer 6

Not high enough to reach gas

Question 7

Vent gas scrubber

Answer 7

Leaking gas could have been detoxified, but the scrubber was turned off

Question 8

Flare tower

Answer 8

It is designed to burn off gas but the connecting pipe had been removed for maintenance.

Question 9

The world’s worst Industrial Disaster with over ______ and _______.

Answer 9

25,000 casualties, 120,000 injuries

Question 10

They try to neutralize the remaining MIC in the factory

Answer 10

Operators

Question 11

Is used to produce carbamate pesticides. A colorless liquid that has sharp odor. Is extremely toxic to humans from acute exposure

Answer 11

METHYL ISOCYANATE (MIC)

Question 12

Short term effect of MIC

Answer 12

*respiratory tract infection
* Ophthalmic problems
* Neuromuscular toxicity

Question 13

Long term effect of MIC

Answer 13

• Reproductive Toxicity
• Geno toxicity and Carcinogenicity

Question 14

Reasons why the accident Happen

Answer 14

*Human error and negligence
*Lack of calibration in equipment
*Budget cut in safety measures

Question 15

What should have been done

Answer 15

• india should have stricter laws about the amount of hazardous chemical stored in a factory.
• Funds should have alloted safety measures.
• Provide expanded programs of toxicity testing that examine the effect of chemicals to humans and environment.
• Educate of health care providers about environmental health and toxicology
• Supervisors could have been placed on night shift
• There should have been 4 stage of back up system instead of one manual back up system
• Regular intervals and proper maintenance.
  *Strict regulations and methods
• Proper pressure gauge should have been used