Chemical Disasters

Children's Literature - Susan Hepler

Opening with an overview of chemical classification and use, this book discusses three disasters--the 1933 toxic mercury dump in a Japanese Bay that killed or disabled thousands; a fertilizer ship explosion in 1947 that set fire to a Texas city and burned for over a week; and the gas leak of the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India in 1984. Statistics, boxed information about hazard waste management, for instance, quotes from witnesses, and timeline treatments give the book visual and textual interest. A list of the World's Worst Chemical Disasters, a glossary, and index are included. The "World's Worst" series provides information for environmental issues and a good read for those who enjoy true and dire stories.