Glossary
Bhopal Disaster
A catastrophic industrial accident in 1984 in Bhopal, India, where a poisonous gas cloud of methyl isocyanate (MIC) escaped from a chemical plant, causing thousands of immediate deaths and long-term health issues.
Example:
The Bhopal Disaster remains one of the world's worst industrial accidents, emphasizing the critical need for stringent safety regulations in chemical manufacturing.
Bio-magnification
The increasing concentration of a toxic substance in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain.
Example:
DDT, a persistent pesticide, famously underwent Bio-magnification in aquatic food webs, leading to high concentrations in top predators like bald eagles, causing eggshell thinning.
CERCLA Superfund Program
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is a US federal program established to fund and oversee the cleanup of abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
Example:
After discovering contaminated groundwater, the EPA initiated a CERCLA Superfund Program cleanup to remove toxic chemicals from the old industrial site.
Chernobyl Disaster
A catastrophic nuclear accident in 1986 in Ukraine, caused by a flawed reactor design and human error, leading to a reactor explosion and widespread release of radioactive materials.
Example:
The long-term exclusion zone around Chernobyl Disaster still exists today, preventing human habitation due to persistent high radiation levels.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
A major environmental disaster in 1989 when the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling millions of gallons of crude oil.
Example:
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill devastated marine ecosystems, leading to the deaths of countless seabirds, otters, and other wildlife along the Alaskan coastline.
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster
A major nuclear accident in 2011 in Japan, triggered by a powerful earthquake and tsunami that caused cooling system failures and subsequent meltdowns in multiple reactors.
Example:
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to natural hazards, even with advanced safety protocols.
Great Barrier Reef Bleaching
A widespread phenomenon where rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification cause corals to expel their symbiotic algae, leading to their white appearance and eventual death if conditions persist.
Example:
Scientists are concerned that continued global warming will lead to more frequent and severe Great Barrier Reef Bleaching events, threatening this vital marine ecosystem.
Great Smog of London
A severe air pollution event in London in 1952, caused by a combination of cold weather, increased coal burning, and a thermal inversion, leading to thousands of deaths from respiratory illness.
Example:
The Great Smog of London prompted the UK government to pass the Clean Air Act, demonstrating how environmental disasters can drive policy change.
Industrial Smog (Gray Smog)
A type of air pollution primarily composed of sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter, typically formed from the burning of coal and other fossil fuels in industrial areas.
Example:
The dense, dark haze that often hangs over heavily industrialized cities is a classic example of Industrial Smog (Gray Smog), impacting visibility and respiratory health.
Kuwaiti Oil Fires
A series of oil well fires set by retreating Iraqi military forces in 1991 during the Gulf War, resulting in massive air pollution and environmental damage.
Example:
The Kuwaiti Oil Fires released immense amounts of soot and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, impacting regional air quality and contributing to climate concerns.
Love Canal Disaster
A notorious environmental disaster in the 1970s in Niagara Falls, New York, where a residential community was built on top of a buried toxic waste dump, leading to severe health problems and forced evacuations.
Example:
The Love Canal Disaster became a symbol of improper hazardous waste disposal and directly led to the creation of the Superfund program in the United States.
Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)
A highly toxic chemical compound used in the production of pesticides, famously involved in the Bhopal Disaster due to its accidental release.
Example:
The rapid and devastating health impacts observed in Bhopal were primarily attributed to exposure to the deadly gas, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC).
Minamata Bay Disaster
A severe case of mercury poisoning in Minamata Bay, Japan, starting in the 1950s, caused by industrial wastewater contaminated with methylmercury bio-magnifying in local seafood and affecting human consumers.
Example:
The neurological symptoms observed in residents affected by the Minamata Bay Disaster were a tragic consequence of consuming fish contaminated with bio-magnified mercury.
Nuclear Meltdown
A severe accident in a nuclear reactor where the core overheats and melts, potentially releasing radioactive materials into the environment.
Example:
The partial Nuclear Meltdown at Three Mile Island caused significant public concern, even though the containment building largely prevented a major release of radiation.
Ocean Acidification
The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) from human emissions.
Example:
The increasing acidity of seawater due to Ocean Acidification makes it harder for marine organisms like corals and shellfish to build and maintain their calcium carbonate shells and skeletons.
Photochemical Smog (Brown Smog)
A type of air pollution formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of sunlight, creating ozone and other harmful secondary pollutants.
Example:
The hazy, brownish air often seen over large urban areas on sunny days, especially during rush hour, is characteristic of Photochemical Smog (Brown Smog).
Radioactive Cloud
A plume of airborne radioactive particles and gases released into the atmosphere, typically from a nuclear accident or explosion, which can spread over vast distances.
Example:
Following the Chernobyl disaster, a Radioactive Cloud drifted across Europe, leading to elevated radiation levels and contamination in distant countries.
Scrubbers
Air pollution control devices that remove particulates and/or gases from industrial exhaust streams, often by spraying a liquid absorbent or using dry sorbents.
Example:
Power plants often install Scrubbers in their smokestacks to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, helping to prevent acid rain.
Thermal Inversion
An atmospheric condition where a layer of warm air settles above a layer of cooler air, trapping pollutants near the ground and preventing their dispersion.
Example:
Cities located in valleys are particularly susceptible to severe air pollution episodes when a Thermal Inversion occurs, as pollutants cannot rise and dissipate.
Three Mile Island Accident
A partial nuclear meltdown in 1979 in Pennsylvania, USA, caused by equipment malfunctions and operator errors, which led to public distrust in nuclear energy in the US.
Example:
After the Three Mile Island Accident, public concern about nuclear safety significantly increased, slowing the development of new nuclear power plants in the United States.