Chemical leaks and industrial accidents

Man-environment relationship should be considered as a control system in which every major elements needs to be analyzed. Chemical leaks and industrial accidents have a different set of relationships with the environment.  This man-made ecosystem has been suggested to be replaced by control-system. To maintain stability within the system there is need o have proper controls in place before it is allowed to be functional. The same set of rules ought to apply to a smaller size control system like an industrial unit. In absence of proper planning the scale and complexity of these human controls become difficult to analyze.

 Onset type and warning

 Human culture is the primary factory in determining human response to disasters of own make. The patterns of industrial hazards reveal that they can be sudden, slow or may not respond to any definite onset pattern.  Sometimes there are not even recognizable elements as in the case of Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It was so sudden, then spread slowly and no define pattern has been established so far because some of the pregnant mothers still suffer from debilitating effects of poisonous gases.

 It has not yet been established whether these effects are a result of gas leak or have any linkages with it. Through industrial establishments have their own monitoring and warning systems of gas/ chemical leaks or accidents, they do not have basic mechanism building up defense against disasters at short notice. They also often tend ignore such warnings.  

 Vulnerability

In the case of chemical leaks and industrial hazards the most vulnerable sections are women and children. It is because pregnant women and lactating mothers have negative biological response to certain chemicals.

 Old people in the vicinity of industries are also most vulnerable section.

 All the three environments-land, water and air-are effected by chemical leaks. Therefore settlements are affected most.

 Hazardous substances released in air and water travel long distances and affect the people.

 Certain chemicals may produce long term reactions and effects through inheritance.

 Typical effects

 Disabilities: many chemicals and gases are potent to produce debilitating disabilities like blindness, deafness, paralysis and nervous disorders.

 Environmental degradation:  chemical leaks and accidents cause air, water and land pollution and affect the biological world in many different ways as well as through diseases and disabilities.

 Animal and human casualties: gas leaks and other industrial accidents kill and debilitate people in the following ways:

 *Inhalation may cause cancer, stomach problem, heart and lung problems and death.

*Eye exposure may damage eyesight temporarily or permanently.

*Skin exposure may cause skin cancer, irritation or other damage.

*Malfunction of immune system and its damage may increase future risks.