Chernobyl Nuclear disaster, 1986, Chernobyl, Ukraine
An explosion at a nuclear reactor releases 100 times the radiation of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 270 000 people contracted cancer and birth defects were reported for decades.
Seveso Chemical Plant, 1976, Seveso, Italy
A rupture in a chemical plant in Italy causes toxic vapour to be released into the air. All livestock and food supplies had to be destroyed. People living nearby suffered from long-term health problems.
Great Smog, 1952, London UK
A 4 day pollution cloud in London caused the death of 4000 people, mostly children and elderly people. The smog consisted primarily of burned coal.
Vietnam Ecocide, 1962-1971, Vietnam
2.2mil acres of forest and cropland were destroyed by the US during the war. High-grade herbicides were used to destroy the forest. The herbicides had long-term damaging effects on the ecosystems.
BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, 2010, Gulf of Mexico
An explosion on an oilrig caused a major spil in the Atlantic Ocean. The oil spill lasted 87 days, with almost 5 million barrels of oil released into the Atlantic Ocean. To date, BP had to pay over $40 billion in fines and settlements.
