INTRODUCTION TO BHOPAL AEROSOL TRAGEDY

The Bhopal event of 2/3 December 1984 should be described by some more forceful expression/adjectives than covering it with the use of word "Disaster", which always has a element of nature as contributory or precipitating factor. There is a human element in Bhopal incidence which is an event, deliberate and calculated unlike the disaster. Even Chernobyl leakage is a misadventure on the part of human scientific arrogance. The human race is highly evolved species, the higher the evolution, the more prone and sensitivity to the biological damage. The exposure caused widespread damage and destruction of the exposed population, the worst damage is to be the suffered by the next generation due to mutations, ( altered genes) to which the human is very susceptible.

The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic bombing were events not covered as a disaster in the history, since it was a strategic, planned and deliberate act in war to break the morale of the enemy. In this situation, the mechanism of human injury and its after effects were very well known. Even then the studies are progressing with the same vigor for the last nearly five decades. The disaster must have element of nature’s fury. The event described as an " accident" takes away the element of magnitude and absolves the accused of direct, calculated responsibility.

As against this the "Bhopal Aerosol Event", scientific studies began to be weaned out within five years of their start, in 1985. The onus of such a decision is on the Indian Council of Medical Research. It concluded that the projects have come to logical conclusion and terminated most of these in 1992.

The scientific elite of the world even today questions as to the contents and composition of chemicals in the Killer Tank 610 of UCC. The study reported in this document - proves the fact to the hilt, that it was a mysterious combination of chemicals. It is still a deeper mystery as to what reconjugation/ reformulation,the contents of the tank went through, being spread over Bhopal as a chain reaction due to the variation/fluctuation of the pressure and temperature at a given time of cooking.

Therefore, today it is very clear that Bhopal victims were not exposed to a uniform Aerosol in a uniform physical condition, at any given time. The emission was a process in stages, difficult to work out. Bucher Summarised in a single sentence due to the factors mentioned above that "simulated animal experiments can not be undertaken". The treatment to the victims, in the face of Telex message from Disease Control Center Atlanta dated 14th December 1984, "no antidote known", was mostly symptomatic. Even today it is mostly symptomatic.

The toxicological investigation based on signs and symptoms, laboratory investigations, autopsy findings recommended the use of Sodium Thiosulphate therapy. The first I.V. Sodium Thiosulphate 10% 10ml was given to Prof. Heeresh Chandra on 8th December 1984. The dramatic relief, to his mental and physical fatigue was enormous within 2 hours the mind cleared, feeling of nausea and headache disappeared. He felt good, This therapeutic response of a safe antidote confirmed that the body has a cyanogen pool.

It was surprising that a toxicological laboratory indicates a poison and there was great opposition to the use of its antidote. It was more surprising that sodium Thiosulphate was supported earlier and withdrawn later.

Today, we are convinced that if in the first 3 months the victims were given Sodium Thiosulphate therapy, the morbidity would have been very little. I have a record that most of the staff, clinical professors took the treatment themselves but were against its use on the patients.

It is a criminal act to work against the diagnosis of poisoning given by a established laboratory and not to treat the patient with the specific antidote. The dose and choice of drugs may differ but can’t be overruled.

The deposition was made before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on 14th November 1988 by Prof. Heeresh Chandra, a Nominated Member of Supreme Court Committee on Bhopal Gas Tragedy and Dr. Sriramachari the Elected Chairman of the committee on Sodium Thiosulphate Therapy.

The scientific elite of the world even today questions as to the contents and composition of chemicals in the Killer Tank 610 of UCC. The study reported in this document - proves the fact to the hilt, that it was a mysterious combination of chemicals. It is still a deeper mystery as to what reconjugation/ reformulation,the contents of the tank went through, being spread over Bhopal as a chain reaction due to the variation/fluctuation of the pressure and temperature at a given time of cooking.