Word: mic
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Union Carbide's investigation in Bhopal focused on a partially buried tank holding more than 10,000 gal. of methyl isocyanate (MIC), a highly toxic chemical used in the manufacture of Sevin, Temik and other pesticides. The sealed tank was designed to keep the deadly MIC refrigerated and isolated from the environment. But on the night of Dec. 2, a series of runaway chemical reactions heated the interior of the tank to 400 degreesF, causing an escape valve to burst open and release a lethal cloud of vapor over the slums of Bhopal...
What triggered the reaction? Analyzing residue from the bottom of the tank, Union Carbide investigators determined that the culprit "with high probability" was water. Either by accident or design, they said, a large quantity of water had been poured into the holding tank, reacting with the MIC to produce enough heat and pressure to pop the valve. One possible source: a utility station where a pipe marked "water" is located next to one marked "nitrogen" (used to pressurize the tank). Most likely, the investigators suggested, someone connected the wrong pipe to the tank, allowing as much...
Union Carbide last week moved to ease public concern over its MIC plant at Institute, W. Va., which was closed down immediately after the Bhopal tragedy. Conducting a press tour of the facility, it showed off the results of a $5 million program to improve safety measures. Some environmentalists were not entirely reassured. Says A. Karim Ahmed, a scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council in New York City: "It remains to be seen whether they learned the lesson of Bhopal...
...computer system to provide instant notification of leaks and pressure changes. Company investigators are also examining each of the unit's existing safety systems. Governor Arch Moore praised Union Carbide's restart announcement as welcome news. Institute townspeople were pleased too. Said Charles White, 60, a longtime resident: "MIC is one of the bread-and-butter products for Union Carbide. I think they need that product, and I feel that the accident at Bhopal has given them more insight into safety measures...
...government of India. A settlement, however, will not resolve the complex issue of relations between multinational corporations and Third World countries. The investigation in India has determined that Union Carbide never fully advised either the national government or the district administration of the dangers involved in producing and storing MIC. At the same time, it is not clear whether local officials did enough to guarantee the safety of the Bhopal plant...