The chemical waste fields Bhopal

This was shot at the solar evaporation fields north of the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal. Our guide here is Brian Mooney, Clinical Associate professor of Social Sciences at NYU, explains the history and current state of these chemical dumping grounds.
HISTORY
A gas leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India saw the beginning of the worst industrial disaster in history. It has come to be known as the Hiroshima of the chemical industry.
40 tonnes of deadly methyl isocyanate gas, used in the manufacture of the pesticide Sevin, spewed from the plant into the surrounding areas.

8-10,000 people died within the first 72 hours and another 15,000 people have died as a result of their exposure to the gas. Another 120,000 have chronic medical conditions that require constant healthcare.
(For comparison, Chernobyl is estimated to have caused 57 direct deaths, with some 4,000 additional deaths from cancer).
Union Carbide, the perpetrator of the disaster, is now owned by Dow. Dow have consistently refused to accept any responsibility for the disaster or its aftermath.

The disaster site was never cleared of its toxic waste. The environment, all around the factory, is heavily contaminated and the toxins have now leached in to the drinking water aquifer. An estimated 25,000 people have no other regular source of drinking water and are forced to drink this water contaminated with toxic chemicals.

The Bhopal Medical Appeal funds the Sambhavna Clinic. Sambhavna is the only place that offers free treatment to anybody affected by the toxic gas or the toxic water.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Bhopal
• Union Carbide
• Dow
• Chemical
• poison
• Water poisoning
• Sambhavna
• Bhopal Medical Appeal