Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 4
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
The Bhopal Disaster (1984)
• Methyl isocyanate (MIC)
release
Union Carbide plant in
Bhopal, India (December 3,
1984)
http://www.lenntech.com/environmental
-disasters.htm
Module One – Toxic Industrial Gases as Terrorist Threats
4
Releases of toxic industrial gases form the most likely TIC/TIM scenario.
Much of the chemical legislation in this country and elsewhere grew out of concern
following large-scale exposures.
The release of more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) from the Union Carbide
plant in Bhopal, India in December 1984 is the best example of a large-scale industrial
release of a gas. Although this is generally considered to be an industrial accident, it
highlights many key features of a terrorist event, including the scope of injury – both
acute and chronic, the failure of control measures, and the inadequacy of medical
response. There were considerably more casualties and more deaths from this
industrial event than any terrorist event to date.
This slide depicts some of the features of the methyl isocyanate release and failures of
intended control measures at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India. This plant was in
the process of being shut down and staffing and maintenance were not at their usual
levels.
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