The Bhopal gas leak incident is one of the worst tragedies ever to take place. On the 3rd of December, a gas leak in Bhopal, India, brought destruction to Bhopal’s people.
Union Carbide Corporation was an American based industry that was built next to nearby shantytowns. The area was densely populated; therefore, more than 200,000 people came in contact with the highly toxic gas. As a result, many died, many had to face acute and chronic diseases, and then many women had to either abort or give birth to disabled children. It is believed that even after more than 30 years, the conditions of the people of Bhopal are unstable, and their sufferings are ongoing.
Environmental Effect
The negative consequences of the gas leak started to demonstrate its damages to the environment after a few years. It damaged the nearby trees; their leaves yellowed and fell off their branches. Around 2,000 animals, such as buffalos and goats, were killed.
The Indian government later announced that fishing was prohibited as they feared the lakes might also be polluted. In addition, it had affected the growth of the crops, which caused financial and food chain issues. The authorities stated that about 36 wards were “gas affected”.
After the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, there had been repetitive environmental issues as the damaged area was not cleaned up properly. The attempts at decontamination were insufficient. When the clean-up responsibilities were shifted from Union Carbide to the Madhya Pradesh government in 1998 since that day, money and accountability had become a problem resulting in drinking contaminated water.
Contaminated Water
Greenpeace Research Laboratories tested a water sample in 1999, illustrating contaminants in Bhopal’s drinking supply. They found out that there were volatile organic compounds in Bhopal’s drinking water supply. For example, a chemical found in the water, called trichloroethene, was 50 times higher than the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, safety limits.
In addition, other compounds, such as chlorinated benzenes, chlorinated ethenes, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead, were found. Peoples’ central nervous system (brain), kidneys, heart, lungs, and liver were damaged as these chemicals were present in the water.
All these chemicals persist in the drinking water supply as the water was not fully and adequately decontaminated. Therefore, even though the water is not safe for drinking, the residents of Bhopal still utilise the contaminated water as they have no other choice because the government of India has not supplied them with clean water.
Effect on the People
There was an increase in abortions and psychological problems, chronic damage to the eyes and lungs. It had also damaged reproductive health. Just as people got exposed to MIC gas, they immediately started to suffer from burning, redness and watering of eyes, coughing, skin redness, vomiting, corneal damage, unconsciousness, fatigue. Furthermore, 1, 3 dimethyl were found in breast milk which is dangerous because it causes several disabilities in infants.
Within four days, most deaths were because of pulmonary oedema. That is when fluid started building up in the lungs of people, making it hard for them to breathe due to excessive liquid, and the reason for this was the presence of phosgene in the gas.
After 2-3 months of the accident, studies were conducted on 783 people, including men, women, and children exposed to the gas. They were subjected to spirometry; this is a test designed to diagnose and monitor lung conditions by measuring the amount of air breathed out in one breath. A piece of equipment called a ‘spirometer’ was used to examine 783 people, out of which 39 per cent had a respiratory impairment and the rest suffered from health issues like those stated above.
Damage to the reproductive system, respiratory system, and psychological effects increased as the years passed. The medical systems in Bhopal were not equipped to handle the influx of patients or their conditions. The possibility is that the delay in treating some people caused lasting damage.
If the Carbide factory was not left untreated, most of the ongoings problems could have been avoided. The government must take every essential step to provide clean drinking water and make groundwater free of toxins, continually affecting Bhopal as it has for years.
After the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, there had been repetitive environmental issues as the damaged area was not cleaned up properly. The attempts at decontamination were insufficient.
Read about some ways we can try to prevent tragedies like that in Bhopal from happening here. Or check out this post, to see what the environmental future could look like for places like Bhopal.