Unnatural Disasters: Case Studies of Human-Induced Environmental Catastrophes

by Angus M. Gunn

Overview

This reference resource describes both the scientific background and the economic and social issues that resulted from environmental disasters resulting primarily from human activity. Categorized by the type of tragedy—including coal mine tragedies, dam failures, industrial explosions, and oil spills—this one-stop guide provides students with descriptions of some of the world's most tragic environmental disasters. Entries clearly describe each disaster by defining the cause, the consequences, and the clean-up efforts.

Readers will learn who the responsible parties were, the effect on the environment and people living in the immediate area, and the economic impact of each disaster. In addition, the long-term consequences, the likelihood of a repeat disaster in the same area, and the measures that have been taken to prevent a repeat incident are discussed. Entries include the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion, the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, the atomic bomb at Hiroshima, and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313319990
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/30/2003
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.44(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

ANGUS M. GUNN is Professor Emeritus of the University of British Columbia.

Table of Contents

CONTENTSCONTENTSContents Acknowledgments ixIntroduction xi1. Coal Mining Tragedies 1Turtle Mountain, Canada, 1903 1Aberfan, Wales, 1966 3Buffalo Creek, West Virginia, 1972 72. Dam Failures 11Santa Clara River, California, 1928 11Teton River, Idaho, 1976 15Vaiont River Valley, Italy, 1963 203. Government Actions 25Hiroshima, Japan, 1945 25Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, 1946 28Ukraine, Soviet Union, 1932 34Morris County, New Jersey, 1926 38Halifax, Canada, 1917 394. Industrial Explosions 43Oppau, Germany, 1921 43Texas City, Texas, 1947 46Cleveland, Ohio, 1944 50Mexico City, Mexico, 1984 54Flixborough, England, 1974 575. Nuclear Energy Accidents 61Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, 1979 61Chernobyl, Soviet Union, 1986 67Tokai, Japan, 1999 726. Oil Spills 77Coastal Brittany, France, 1978 77Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1989 82Block Island Sound, Rhode Island, 1996 897. Terrorist Acts 93Eastern United States, 2001 93Kuwait and the Persian Gulf, 1991 96Washington, D.C., 2001 101New York City, 1993 103New York City, 2001 1078. Toxicity—Industrial 113Bhopal, India, 1984 113Seveso, Italy, 1976 118Minamata, Japan, 1956 123Basel, Switzerland, 1986 1269. Toxicity—Residential 129Love Canal, New York, 1978 129Iraq, 1971 134London, England, 1952 136Index 141