Study of Hazardous Substances Emergency Events and their

Health Effects

Presented by Deepay Mukerjee

September 7, 2005

PART A

Study of Emergency Events

Ten Most Frequent Substances Involved in Events

• Ammonia• Sulfur Dioxide• Nitrogen Oxide• Carbon Monoxide• Hydrochloric Acid• Methamphetamine Chemicals• VOC’s• Sulfuric Acid• Nitric Oxide• Sodium Hydroxide

The Next Ten

• Mercury• Chlorine• Nitrogen Oxides, NOS• Benzene• Ethylene Glycol• Paint• Solvent, NOS• Hydrogen Sulfide• Polychlorinated Biphenyls• Super Clean

Distribution of the Number of Substances Released by

Category and Type of EventSubstance FF Trans Total

VOC’s 5,602 1,227 6,829

Acids 1,661 1,066 2,727

Ammonia 1,607 216 1,823

Bases 560 602 1,162

Paints 431 411 842

Total 25,747 7,742 33,489

Cumulative Data for all Participating States

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Total EventsTotal SubstancesTotal Victims

Number of Victims by Category

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

EmployeesGeneral PublicRespondersStudents

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

No. of Victims

A B C D E F GSeverity of Injury

Injury Disposition

A = Died B = Treated Unseen C = Treated At Hospital

D = Treated and Admitted to Hospital E = Observed at Hospital

F = Treated By Physician G = Injuries Reported By Officials

46.5

32

8.5

58

EquipmentFailureHuman Error

Maintenance

Illicit Drugs

Other

Factors Contributing to Events

Number of Events by State and Type of Event

State FF Type

Events

Transp.

Events

Total Events

TEXAS 2,482

(89.6%)

289

(10.4%)

2771

NEW YORK

737

(66.6%)

369

(33.4%)

1,106

LOUISIANA

630

(83.8%)

122

(16.2%)

752

TOTAL 6,493 2,520 9,013

Events reported by Month

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Feb Apr June Aug Oct Dec

# Events

FF Events Reported by Time of Day

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Midnight 8:00 AM 4:00 PM

# Events

FF Events (Contd.)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

8:00 AM 10:00 AM Noon 2PM 4:00 PM

# Events

Transportation-related Events by Time of Day

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Midnight 8:00 AM 4:00 PM

# Events

Areas of Fixed Facilities Involved in Events

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

A B C D E F

# Events

A – Ancillary Process Equipment B – Process Vessel

Distribution of Responders injured in FF Events

55%

18%

13%

6%8%

Police

Career FF

Vol FF

EMT

Others

Distribution of Responders injured in Transportation

Events

73

16

52 4

Police

Career FF

Vol FF

EMT

Others

Distribution of Events by Type of Transport

85%

10%

3%1%1%

GroundRailWaterAirPipeline

PART BHealth Study

Phase 1Baseline Assessment

• Monitoring of 19 VOC’s

• Ozone

• Acidic Aerosols

• Metals

• Particles

Phase 2Cross-Sectional Study

• Region wide survey of respiratory and other symptoms among children

• Monitoring of ambient concentrations of selected VOC’s

Phase 3Longitudinal Study

• A four-community survey of daily respiratory symptoms and exposures to acid aerosols, pollens, and selected VOC’s

• A limited study of lung function development, using pulmonary performance measurements

Compounds Detected in Air

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Acryloni

Allyl A

Benzene

Chloro

Methyl Ch

M'lene Ch

ND

BQL

AQL

Examine the Relationship between Symptoms of

Irritation of • Eyes

• Nose

• Throat

• Lungs

with Ambient Levels of Chemicals from Industrial Sources in AIR

VOC Exposure Indicator Study

Other Variables affecting the symptoms include :

• Daily pollen counts

• Daily measures of Acid Aerosols

• Daily Ozone pollution

• Daily Temperature

Prevention Outreach Activities(Chemical-Specific)

Ammonia

• Created an Ammonia fact sheet that addresses the health effects and hazards associated with anhydrous ammonia exposure and the appropriate personal protective equipment for employees and the first responders.

• Created a prevention brochure targeting ag ammonia facilities, focusing on the appropriate personal protective equipment and the regulatory requirements regarding ammonia tanks.

• Surveyed each party responsible for an ammonia release in the state to determine the precise cause of the release.

Chlorine

• Distributed fact sheets to chlorine producers and businesses that operate swimming pools and spas

• Presented data on chlorine releases to state and local agencies that regulate the chlorine industries

• Presented data on chlorine releases to personnel in public and private schools containing swimming pools.

Mercury

• Created mercury fact sheets to distribute at meetings and presentations and on state health department websites. Also distributed fact sheets to school administrators.

• Provided data on mercury releases to help scientifically support a bill to ban the sale of mercury thermometers in the state.

Summary

• Largest proportion of events occurred in Fixed Facilities.

• The number of reported transportation related events are increasing, primarily due to advanced reporting by DOT’s HMIS.

• Some states have reported increases in events. We feel it is due to expansion of reporting sources.

Summary

• In events involving victims, respiratory symptoms have been most frequently reported.

• Deaths associated with events suggest a need to evaluate danger of exposure to hazmats and circumstances surrounding the events. Examples …..

• Employees continue to be the largest group of victims in emergency events.

Conclusion

• Collaboration • Training and Education• Stronger commitment to Responsible Care• Expanded role of PCC, CDC, ATSDR, DHS,

EPA, DHHS, LEPC, SERC, DOT• Enhanced site security and maintenance• Modernized storage practices• Adequate funding