A peer reviewed report by Edward Broughton published in the journal Environmental Health in May of 2005: The Bhopal Disaster And Its Aftermath: A Review Abstract On December 3 1984, more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, immediately killing at least 3,800 people and causing significant morbidity and premature death for many thousands more. The company involved in what became the worst industrial accident in history immediately tried to dissociate itself from legal responsibility. Eventually it reached a settlement with the Indian Government through mediation of that countrys Supreme Court and accepted moral responsibility. It paid $470 million in compensation, a relatively small amount of based on significant underestimations of the long-term health consequences of exposure and the number of people exposed. The disaster indicated a need for enforceable international standards for environmental safety, preventative strategies to avoid similar accidents and industrial disaster preparedness. Since the disaster, India has experienced rapid industrialization. While some positive changes in government policy and behavior of a few industries have taken place, major threats to the environment from rapid and poorly regulated industrial growth remain. Widespread environmental degradation with significant adverse human health consequences continues to occur throughout India. December 2004 marked the twentieth anniversary of the massive toxic gas leak from Union Carbide Corporations chemical plant in Bhopal in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India that killed more than 3,800 people. [Yesterday was the 30th Anniversary] This review examines the health effects of exposure to the disaster, the legal response, the lessons learned and whether or not these are put into practice in India in terms of industrial development, environmental management and public health. Complete comprehensive report: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1142333/
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 07:07:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015