The chemical that was released, methyl isocyanate (MIC), is an ester of isocyanic acid (HNCO). It is highly volatile and inflammable and is easily produced and stored at room temperature. MIC, with phosgene as one of the substances used to manufacture it, creates immediate irritation, chest pain, breathlessness, and can trigger severe asthma. If the exposure is high, as in Bhopal, it leads to severe bacterial and oesinophihc pneumonia, tumor or laryngeal edema and massive cardiac arrest. The real problem, however, is that it sensitizes the skin and even a mild exposure proves lethal. Union Carbide, reporting sales of $9.5 billion in 1984, was clearly one of the largest industrial companies in the Unites States and the World. They produced everything from plastic wraps to automotive supplies. The Bhopal plant produced pesticides, mainly to be used in India in its pursuit to be more self-sufficient. Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) was celebrating its 50th anniversary and had sales of about $200 million annually. It operated 14 plants and had 9,000 employees. In 1984, the entire workforce at the plant in Bhopal was Indian and MIC had been being produced at the site since the 1970's. What I failed to mention is that this gas was released by a disgruntled employee who was trying to get back at the company who had taken many years of his life and was now letting him go with nothing to show for all of his years of dedication and hard work. I use this living example to show how easy a terrorist attack of enormous quantity was with hardly any security. That is why our nation needs to "bite the bullet" and bulk up on security in all areas that have potential to harm.
The magnitude of a terrorist attack on U.S. chemical facilities could easily exceed the loss of life suffered on September 11th. It is now time to address the vulnerability of this industry. Even President Bush was at risk. On September 11, when Air Force One landed in Louisiana, the President joined more than a million Louisiana residents who live every day in a region that is blanketed by chemical "kill zones.
