CASE STUDIES
AIR POLLUTION
1. THE TAJ TRAPEZIUM CASE(Mc MEHTA Vs UNION OF INDIA):
SOURCERS OF DAMAGE:
Industries, Refinery at Mathura, Brick kilns emission.
CHEMICAL:
SO3 emitted combines with Oxygen and moisture forming sulphuric acid, called
Acid rain.
EFFECT:
Corrodes the clean white marble, results in decay of marble and yellow pallon
affects the entire monument.
ACTION:
Judgement applied the “precautionary principle in May 1999”.
2. K
SOURCE:
Union Carbide India ltd in Bhopal, MP on 3rd December 1984.
CHEMICAL:
Methyl Iso Cynate (MIC) reactor exploded due to failure of its cooling system
and 40 tons leaked.
EFFECTS:
A lower concentration affects lungs and eyes, irritation in the skin. Higher
concentration removes Oxygen from the lungs and leads to death.
DAMAGE:
Spread over 40 [Link] area. 5000 persons were killed, 65000 people were
affected by severe respiratory disorder, 1000 people became blind.
WATER POLLUTION
1. WEST BENGAL, BIHAR SEVERELY CONTAMINATED BY ARSENIC:
SOURCES:
Over use of Lead arsenate and Copper arsenate as pesticides in summer on
paddy and jute crops.
EFFECTS:
White or black spots on the skin called Melanons, bladder and lung cancer,
children affected by Arsenicosis.
DAMAGE:
380 Million Residents in Ganga basin are affected.
2. PALAR RIVER POLLUTION:
SOURCES:
Chrome Tanning Industries
CHEMICALS:
Chromium, Calcium, Ammonium salts, organic dyes and Acids.
EFFECTS:
Supplies water for several municipalities but polluted by effluent of leather
industries which affects agriculture in 40000 hectares of croplands.
INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION:
SOURCES:
500 Dying units, 195 bleaching units in Tirupur.
EFFECTS:
Affects surface and underground water effluent also increase the pH of soil.
River like Noyyal and Cauvery are affected.
ACTION:
Tamilnadu pollution Control Board has directed not to allow effluents to mix
into the river systems.
FLOODS:
Flood in Bangladesh-1974 DURATION:
Stagnated for more than one month.
EFFECTS:
1500 People died, 280000 were died from disease and starvation 450000
houses destroyed and 35 million lost their belongings.
CYCLONE:
Cyclone in Orrisa-1999
SOURCE:
Two cyclone storms with a wind velocity of 260 Km/Hr.
EFFECTS:
14/30 Districts faced severe damage. 15 Million People were affected.
9095% crop yield were affected. 1500 local schools were affected.
LANSLIDES:
Landslide in Uttar Pradesh-1998 PLACE:
Malpa village, Pithoragraph district, 18th august 1998.
EFFECTS:
180 People including 60 pilgrims and 8 Indo-Tibet border police were
killed.
EARTHQUAKE:
1. PLACE : Chile, may 22nd 1960
MAGNITUDE : 9.5 Richter scale
EFFECT : 90000 [Link] killing 60000 people
2. PLACE : Bhuj Town in Gujarat
MAGNITUDE : 6.3 Richter scale
EFFECT : 20000-30000 People were killed
3. PLACE : Iran-1971
EFFECT : 25000 in 1971, 50000 in 1990 and many 1000’s in 2003
TSUNAMI:
PLACE:
Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean on 26th December 2004.
REASON:
Marine Earthquake under the ocean, 8.9 on Richter scale in Indonesia.
EFFECTS:
7950 Deaths in TN, 580 deaths in Pondy, 170 in Kerala, 105 in AP and 6050 in
Nagapattinam(TN)
MARINE POLLUTION:
GULF WAR:
SOURCE:
Gulf war between Iraq and USA.
PLACE:
Kuwait; Jan 16- Feb 26 in 1991 CAUSE:
1700 Oil wells set fire. Oil spill covered sea water nearly 80 Km long and 25
Km wide. Burning for 10 months, release of CO2 and SO2.
EFFECTS:
1 Million Birds were killed, desalination of plants infective
MINIAMATTA EPIDEMIC(1953):
SOURCE:
The Chisso Chemical Company.
CHEMICAL:
Methyl Mercury.
CAUSE:
Effluent containing mercury is converted into methyl mercury. Bio
magnification.
EFFECTS:
Loss of vision and hearing, loss of muscular Co-ordination and severe
headache, nervous disorders.
CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER:
SOURCE:
Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor in Russia.
CAUSE:
Leaked Radio active rays and materials.
DATE: April 26, 1986
EFFECTS:
2000 People were killed, illness like degeneration of cells, bleeding,
anaemia, skin cancer. Animals and Plants are also affected.
