A chemical plant storing methyl isocyanate (MIC) suffers a catastrophic release of gas into a densely populated residential area. The disaster most closely resembles which historical environmental health event in terms of the type of industrial hazard?
- A Minamata disease, Japan
- B Bhopal gas tragedy, India ✓
- C Itai-itai disease, Japan
- D London smog disaster, England
Correct answer: B. Bhopal gas tragedy, India
Explanation
The Bhopal gas tragedy (1984) involved the release of methyl isocyanate from a Union Carbide pesticide plant, making it the archetypal example of acute toxic gas release from chemical industry into a residential area. Minamata disease involved methylmercury in industrial wastewater. Itai-itai disease resulted from cadmium contamination of rice paddies. London smog was ambient air pollution from coal combustion, not an industrial point-source chemical release.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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