Bhopal: The ongoing disaster 1984–2001

On the night of December 2nd-3rd 1984, about40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate and otherlethal gases leaked from Union Carbide Corpo-ration’s pesticide factory in Bhopal, India. Itwas the worst chemical disaster in the historyof the world. An estimated 3,500–7,500 peopledied from direct exposure to the gas but theexact figure remains uncertain. Sadly, the nightof the disaster was only the start of a tragedythat is still unfolding. Union Carbide, whichowned the pesticide plant at the time of thegas leak, abandoned its pesticide factoryleaving large quantities of dangerous poisonsbehind. It left the people of Bhopal with acontaminated water supply and a toxic legacythat is still causing injury today.

DOW = Union Carbide

In 1999, Union Carbide shed its name byannouncing a merger with the US-based multi-national Dow Chemicals. In buying UnionCarbide for a sum of 9.3 billion USD, thuscreating the second largest chemical companyin the world, Dow not only bought the com-pany’s assets but also its liability for the Bhopaldisaster. Yet Dow refuses to accept moralresponsibility for the actions of Union Carbidein Bhopal and, while its legal responsibility isstill being tested in US courts, the people ofBhopal continue to suffer not just from theaccident but also exposure to the contami-nated factory site. According to Dow, thecompanies have a combined annual revenuesof over $24 billion, combined market capi-talization of approximately $35 billion andassets of over $30 billion.

Greenpeace is working with local organisationsin Bhopal to urge Dow/Union Carbide to takefull responsibility, clean up the site and fullycompensate victims of the disaster.

Justice for Bhopal!

The chemical industry disaster at Bhopal on 3rdDecember 1984 killed and injured thousands ofpeople. Yet the gas leak was just the beginning ofan ongoing tragedy. 17 years later, residents ofBhopal are still suffering injury, not just from theaccident but the legacy of contamination left by thechemical industry. Virtually nothing has been doneto clean up the site and water used by people foreveryday needs is still contaminated.

Greenpeace and local survivors’ organisations arecalling for:• Dow to ensure the toxic factory site is cleaned up

at its expense;• Dow to secure medical rehabilitation and long-

term medical treatment facilities for the survivorsof the poison gas leak;

• Dow to secure economic rehabilitation for thegas-affected persons and their families;

• Dow to ensure clean drinking water is provided for the communities that are forced to consumegroundwater containing poisons.

Help us by talking to your senior managers.Do the right thing – ask them to take responsibilityfor Bhopal!

For more information seehttp://www.greenpeace.org/~toxics or www.bhopal.net

The Disaster

In the first days after the terrible disaster anestimated 3’500–7’500 people died from directexposure to the gas. Many died in their beds,others staggered from their homes, blindedand choking, to die in the street. Many moredied later after reaching hospitals and emer-gency aid centres. Today, more than 20,000people live close to the factory site and asecond generation of children are faced withthe impact of a toxic industrial legacy on theirlives or their health. Up to 16,000 people havedied since and a further half a million havebeen injured. Local survivors’ organisationsestimate that 10–15 people continue to dieeach month. As many as 100,000 people arestill in need of urgent medical attention andhave missed out on compensation.

Greenpeace report : Bhopal Toxic Legacy

In 1999, Greenpeace International collectedsamples of soil/waste and groundwater in andaround the factory. The findings led Green-peace to declare the site a “global toxichotspot”.

In the Well Water from Bhopal was found:

“CONTENTS AND EFFECTS ON HUMANS”

1,2-dichlorobenzene chromosomal aberrations1,4-dichlorobenzene liver and kidney damagechloroform narcotictrichloroethene impaired foetal develop-

mentcarbon tetrachloride may cause cancer

1 Sept. 1999 Bhopal, India

Union Carbide accident

survivors’ weekly meeting.

Handpump identified as

unfit for drinking purposes,

but people have to continue

to use it.

Sevin plant at Union Carbide

factory.

©1999 Greenpeace / Yashwant