The Union Carbide India Ltd. (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, which used to manufacture (among other products) the pesticide Sevin (carbaryl) gained world-wide recognition as a result of the tragic chemical disaster on the night of 2-3rd December
1984. The accident, involving a massive release of methylisocyanate (MIC) gas, resulted in the death or injury of many thousands of people in the surrounding residential areas. A
number of studies, conducted in the aftermath of the accident, understandably focused on the long-term consequences of acute exposure to MIC. Very little attention was paid then
to the state of the UCIL site and immediate surroundings with respect to contaminants other than MIC which may have been present not only as a result of the accident, but also
the routine operation of the plant.