Context-An expert committee explicitly barred the publication of the findings of a research study that said babies born to women — who as children were exposed to the 1984 gas leak in Bhopal — were significantly more likely to have “congenital malformations” than those born to women unexposed to the gas.
- The findings emerged in response to a question under the Right To Information Act and were made public at a press conference in Bhopal on Thursday by an association of activists fighting for those affected by the leak of methyl isocyanate from the Bhopal factories of Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals) in December 1984.
- The Supreme Court has admitted a curative petition, which demands more compensation for those affected by the disaster
Findings of various studies
- Congenital malformities in the progeny of the exposed were 9% and those in the unexposed group was 1.3%.
- The first study on the effects of the gas leak on the progeny of pregnant women was commissioned in 1985, and it emerged that defects were apparent in 14.2 of every 1,000 births among women exposed to the leak, as opposed to 12.6 per 1,000 among those not exposed, was and considered statistically insignificant
Bhopal gas tragedy
- Post-midnight on December 3, 1984, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) (Chemical formula- CH3NCO or C2H3NO) leaked from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals), an MNC, in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal.
- It is estimated that about 40 tonnes of gas and other chemicals leaked from the Union Carbide factory.
- Methyl isocyanate is extremely toxic gas and if its concentration in the air touches 21ppm (parts per million), it can cause death within minutes of inhaling the gas.
What is methyl isocyanate?
- Methyl isocyanate (MIS) is a chemical used in the manufacture of polyurethane foam, pesticides and plastics. It usually is handled and shipped as a liquid, which is easily burned and explosive. Methyl isocyanate evaporates quickly in the air. It has a strong odor but it can begin to make people sick before the chemical can be smelled. MIS was the chemical released in the Bhopal, India, disaster in 1984 that killed more than 3,800 people.
How can someone come into contact with methyl isocyanate?
A person can come into contact with methyl isocyanate by—
- Breathing in the smoke from tobacco (i.e., cigarette smoke);
- Breathing in or touching it at workplaces where the chemical is produced or used; or
- Breathing in low levels of it from living near facilities that manufacture, store or use the chemical.
Methyl isocyanate as a weapon:
- Methyl isocyanate can be an “agent of opportunity.” This means that someone could explode the vehicle of transportation (truck, train) that is being used to ship the chemical, or destroy tanks that store the chemical. Methyl isocyanate would then be released into the air.
What happens if someone gets sick from methyl isocyanate?
Signs of a poisoning include the following:
- discomfort and burning of the skin
- cough
- chest pain
- tightness in the chest
- difficulty breathing
- vomiting
How likely is someone to die from methyl isocyanate poisoning?
- The effects of methyl isocyanate will depend on the concentration of exposure and length of time the person is exposed. Exposure to high concentrations could result in severe damage to the lungs and lead to death.
What is the treatment for methyl isocyanate poisoning?
- Prevention of illness after contact: First, leave the area where the methyl isocyanate was released and move to fresh air.
Remove clothing.
- Then, quickly take off clothing that may have methyl isocyanate on it. If possible, any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead so the chemical does not get near the eyes, mouth or nose. If helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas.
Wash affected areas.
- As quickly as possible, wash any methyl isocyanate from the skin with lots of soap and water.
- If the eyes are burning or vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.
- If contact lenses are worn, remove them and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in. If eyeglasses are worn, wash them with soap and water. Eyeglasses can be put back on after they are washed.
- If you are wearing jewelry that you can wash with soap and water, wash it and put it back on. If it cannot be washed, put it with the contaminated clothing.
Discard contaminated items.
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- Place the clothing and any other contaminated items inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you can't avoid touching contaminated areas, or you aren't sure where the contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves or use tongs, sticks or similar objects. Anything that touches the contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag.
- Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag.
- Call the local county health department right away. (Visit www.idph.state.il.us//local/alpha.htm for a listing of all county health departments in Illinois or check your local phone book.)
- When the local or state health department or emergency personnel arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department or emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle the plastic bags yourself.
Treatment of illness: There is no specific treatment for methyl isocyanate poisoning. Supportive care (intravenous fluids, medicine to control pain) is the standard treatment.
Is there a vaccine for methyl isocyanate poisoning?
- No, there is no vaccine for methyl isocyanate poisoning.