Question

The gaseous compound responsible for the Bhopal gas tragedy is

• A. methane
• B. methyl isocyanate
• C. methyl acetate
• D. sulphur dioxide

Answer 1

The correct option is B methyl isocyanate

The Bhopal gas tragedy is known as one of the world's worst industrial disasters and was India’s first major industrial disaster. It resulted in the large-scale (about 45 tons) release of a toxic gas known as methyl isocyanate (MIC) into the air. The gas killed 15,000 - 20,000 people.

The disaster occurred on December 2, 1984, when methyl isocyanate leaked out from Union Carbide India Ltd.’s (UCIL’s) pesticide factory in the city of Bhopal. Being highly reactive to heat, the gas leakage turned the entire city into a colossal gas chamber.

Immediate health effects that were witnessed in the affected population include ulcers, respiratory issues, persistent abdominal pain, impaired audio and visual memory, impaired reasoning ability, etc.

Some long term effects such as chronic conjunctivitis, decreased lung function, increased chromosomal abnormalities etc have persisted in the human population for many years.

Methane, methyl acetate and sulphur dioxide were not found to be leaked in the disaster.