Context:
Twelve trucks carrying toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory site in Bhopal left for the Pithampur industrial area near Indore at 9.05 p.m. amid heavy security. The waste was lying at the site for 40 years after the tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people.
Chemical Waste
Chemical waste refers to the byproducts or products produced in industrial, chemical, or manufacturing processes that can be hazardous or nonhazardous in nature but still need to be disposed of as they pose potential risks to human health, ecosystems, or the environment.
Types and Effects of Chemical Waste
- Categories of Hazardous Waste Chemicals
- Toxic: Chemicals that cause death, toxicity, or other signs via inhalation, ingestion or skin contact.
- Corrosive: Chemicals that burn or destroy tissue and materials.
- Reactive, Flammable, Radioactive, Non-Hazardous Less hazardous toxic chemical.
- Sources of Chemical Waste
- Industrial operations, Laboratory sources, Agricultural operations, Households, Mining.
- Effects of Chemical Waste
- Effects on Environment, Effects on Health, Effects on Flora and Fauna
- Chemical Waste Decomposition or Management Methods
- Neutralization:
- Making chemical waste neutral with reference to a safe material to counteract its deleterious consequences.
- Incineration:
- Burning waste chemicals at very high temperatures so that hazardous species chemicals are degraded into less toxic materials.
- Biodegradation:
- Breaking organic chemicals into simpler and less harmful forms.
- Landfilling:
- This involves depositing waste into a landfill site that has been designated for that particular type of waste.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984)
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. It happened during the night of December 2-3, 1984, in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, India. The disaster led to the death of thousands and long-term health damage of the residents. It was, therefore, a defining moment in the history of industrial safety and disaster management.
