A train derailment near Milligan, Florida.

The train carried chemicals, which were spilled at the site

Chemical Incidents
Accidental or intentional events that threaten to expose/ do expose responders and public to a chemical hazard. Incidents can be
Sudden/ Acute,/ Slow onset (silent release)

The main scenarios are.

known chemical from a fixed site; known chemical from a non-fixed site; Unknown chemical from sites not on a hazardous site inventory

Sources of Chemical Disasters

Chemical accidents may originate in: Manufacturing and formulation installations, maintenance and disposal. Material handling and storage Transportation

CHEMICAL DISASTER

Living Organisms

Environment

Property

Immediate, Short-term and Long-term Effects

Soil and Water Bodies

Atmosphere

Human

Livestock

Plants

Death, Injury, Disease and Disability

Pollution

Impact of a Chemical Disaster

Source: National Disaster Management Guidelines-Chemical Disasters

Causative factors leading to Chemical Disasters

Chemical disasters, from

Fire Explosion Toxic release Poisoning Combinations of above

Exposure due to Chemical Incident

- Employees and other on-site persons

- People involved in emergency services

- Public exposure via air, water, food, soil etc.

FORESEEABLE NEEDS
Chemical incident plan:
Alerting the health care services; Best outcome assessment of actions and management options; Public information and public warnings; Advice on protection; Sheltering or evacuation; Other restrictions to protect public health; Organizing registers and samples; Collections of (human) samples; Environmental monitoring.

Potential environmental impacts by industry sectors

Sector
Chemicals (industrial inorganic and organic compounds, ) excluding petroleum products

Air
Emissions of SO2, NOx, CO, CFCs, VOCs and other organic chemicals, odours

Water
Use of process and cooling water

Soil/Land
Chemical process wastes disposal problems

Emissions of organic chemicals, heavy Sludges from air metals suspended and water pollution solids, phenols, PCBs, cyanide water Risk of spills

Potential environmental impacts by industry sectors

Sector
Refineries, petroleum products

Air
Emissions of SO2,NOx,hydroge n sulphide, HCs, benzene, CO, CO2 ,particulate matter, PAHs, mercaptans, toxic organic compounds, odours
Risk of explosions and fires

Water
Use of cooling water Emission of HCs, mercaptans, caustics, oil, phenols, chromium, effluents from gas scrubbers

Soil/Land
Hazardous waste, sludges from effluent treatment, spent catalysts, tars

Organic and inorganic pollutants which aggravate the water quality after a chemical incident
Organic
-Detergents

Inorganic
- Acidity caused by industrial discharges

Heavy metals and other pollutants

- Heavy metals - Other pollutants like-Lead, Mercury, Nitrates, Phosphates, Sulphur, Oils, Petrochemicals, Radioactive waste and - Effluents/Waste from Metal based industries

-Disinfection by-products

- Ammonia from food processing waste

- Chemical waste as industrial by-products - Fertilizers

- Insecticides and herbicides

- Petroleum hydrocarbons,

-Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs

Measures to reduce vulnerability and health risks of chemical incidents

Measures being taken to contain the release Who is currently under threat What the health effects might be from exposure What the public can actually do to protect themselves and How to get further information when, where and how it will be available.

Mitigation strategies to reduce vulnerability towards food and water after chemical incidents
Information to help Prioritize the Risks
Decide on a consistent risk assessment methodology upfront
Be specific about what the risk is in terms of:
Risk of a specific chemical event Leading cause to a specific hazard Reaching a specific and problematical concentration and At a specific point in time and space Treat control measure failures as a separate hazard event Identify current and required control measures needed to achieve water quality targets

Actions to address water issues after chemical incidences

Strengthening the Water Quality Surveillance Programme
- Identification - Conformation - Appropriate measures

Abandoned and alternative water supply. Constant monitoring of the polluted/ contaminated water Awareness creation

CHEMICAL WATER INCIDENT CHECKLIST FOR HEALTH AUTHORITIES

BASIC CHECKLIST What is known about the contaminating substance?
specific name(s) composition concentrations

What is the source of contamination?

is it still continuing has it been safely contained or removed

How many households in what geographical area have actually and/or potentially been affected? How many people are known to have been exposed to contaminated water, and at what contaminant concentrations? Have any adverse health effects been reported following exposure, what are the symptoms? Are there hospital, drinking water, or food and drink manufacturer abstractions in the area that should be closed? Have samples been taken of affected water and potentially affected water
what is the sampling strategy, e.g. sampling frequency, priority analyses if possible identify peaks and troughs in the analytical results

Recommendations for Initial Actions and Risk Assessment

Define affected population, monitor symptoms and disease levels Review potential health effects and methods of control Compare any measured concentrations for the particular chemical with
regulatory drinking water standards any past sample results, e.g. from routine sampling

Analyze the biological samples on sentinel cases and others exposed Carry out questionnaire survey of all those exposed Recommend duplicate environmental sample collection and analysis Eensure further contamination is prevented

Consider Alerting about the Incident

Refer to health authority emergency plan and waterborne hazard plan if available. Ensure relevant Water Company, Local Authority, Environmental Health and Environment Agency and Health Authority are informed. Form an incident team at an appropriate location. Alert GPs, local hospitals, and PHED department/ water board. Ensure at risk groups are identified and alerted. Alert emergency services to potential of casualties

Check all affected drinking water consumers have been informed, including food and drink manufacturers
Informing department of food if there is a threat to food

Consider issuing a press release to local press and media.

Action for A Water Related Chemical Incident

Piped water Supply

Surface water

Is Drinking water actually or potentially affected? Is Surface water actually or potentially affected? E.g. rivers, lakes Yes/dont know Is it public water supply? Yes NO Contact your local EHO and /or Environment Agency No further action on this route NO No further action on this route Yes/dont know NO

Contact your local water company

For private well/springs, etc. contact your local EHO

Refer Basic Checklist+ additional section 1

Refer Basic Checklist+ additional section 2

Refer Basic Checklist+ additional section 3

SECTION 1 - CHEMICAL INCIDENTS AFFECTING PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES

Have alternative drinking water supplies been arranged, are bowser water supplies safe to drink? Has the source of contamination been identified? What samples are being taken? Is the health authority being advised of all analytical results?

What action for remediation/ decontamination is taking place? Have drinking water abstractions been closed? Have water treatment works been taken off line? Have sewage treatment works been taken off line? Could drinking water storage reservoirs have been affected?

Is advice from other organizations being sought by the water utility

SECTION 2 - CHEMICAL INCIDENTS AFFECTING PRIVATE DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES

Questions Have alternative drinking water supplies been arranged, are bowser water supplies safe to drink? Are other drinking water abstractions in the area threatened with contamination? Inform water utility( PHED/Water board) about the contamination, even if it is a private supply, may be a public water abstraction from the same aquifer.

SECTION 3 - CHEMICAL INCIDENTS AFFECTING SURFACE WATER Questions

Is the area used for water sports, swimming, etc. or for fishing?
Are there any other uses of the water resource, Advise the public about contamination and control access to the affected area? Will the area of contamination change over time Could drinking water storage reservoirs have been affected? Is long term monitoring of the affected, or potentially affected area necessary?

Action for A Water Related Chemical Incident

Ground Water

Marine or Coastal water

Is Ground water actually or potentially affected? E.g. aquifers, wells

Is Marine or Coastal water actually or potentially affected?

Yes/dont know Contact your local EHO and /or Environment Agency

NO No further action on this route

Yes/dont know Contact your local EHO, the Environment Agency and Maritime and Coastguard Agency

NO No further action on this route

Refer Basic Checklist

Refer Basic Checklist + additional section 4

SECTION 4 - CHEMICAL INCIDENTS AFFECTING MARINE OR COASTAL WATER

Questions Is the area used for water sports, swimming, etc.? Is there any recreational or commercial fishing, or collection of other marine animals for food in the area? Are aquatic organisms being sampled ? Advise the public about contamination and control access to the affected area?

Post Incident Questions

Has the incident been declared over for each organization involved Have those affected been informed of the end of the incident?

Has the area been adequately decontaminated?

Have all those with adverse health effects fully recovered? Do any patients need long term follow up? Are all records of the incident complete and up to date? Consider compiling a list of renal patients with routine Update for easy reference in event of future incidents Does the drinking water now meet Indian standards for drinking water quality? Have water utility drinking water mains and domestic water pipes, tanks and plumbing fittings been adequately decontaminated? If permanent new water mains have been installed, have these been verified to be uncontaminated? Is a report to the Drinking Water Inspectorate required?

Case Study: Pollution of Bandi River,Pali,Rajasthan,India

Dumping of untreated effluent from various textiles dyeing and printing industries into the river Pali has severely contaminated the surface and ground water sources. The water pollution has affected land resources with traces of heavy metals being found in soil samples collected in and around the town. River is a cocktail of heavy metals resulting in groundwater contamination downstream of the industries. (Study findings of the Centre for Science and Environment)

Case Study: Impact of chemicals from

abandoned and dilapiated factory on water

Union Carbide, responsible for the 1984 gas disaster in Bhopal had known for more than a decade that chemicals from its abandoned and dilapidated Bhopal factory were poising the drinking water problem of local communities. Drinking water supplies were dis-coloured and had a strong chemical smell and taste Groundwater contamination emanating from the Bhopal plant (Greenpeace International study) Presence of high concentrations of carcinogenic chemicals and heavy metals (Analysis of soil and ground water sample) Twelve volatile organic compounds greatly exceeding WHO and US Environmental protection Agency standard limits were found in local tube wells. The ground water contaminants include some that are toxic, potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic. Infants born with congenital defects like cleft lips, missing palate, stunted growth and cerebral palsy have already been observed in high numbers in the affected communities.

Case Study: Mercury Pollution in a lake (Kodaikkanal) due to a thermometer factory

Kodaikkanal,TamilNadu India suffered mercury contamination due to emission and waste from a thermometer Analysis of water, sediment and fish samples from Kodai Lake showed elevated levels of mercury even 4 years after the stoppage of mercury emissions from the thermometer factory, which was closed down in 2001.

Total mercury (HgT) of 356-465 ng l-1 in methyl mercury form were seen in Kodai waters while Berijam(lake) and Kukkal(lake) water shows significant lower values(i.e.110-127 ng l-1 and 36-48 ng l-1 respectively.
Kodai sediments showed 276-350 mg/kg HgT with about 6% methyl mercury, which is significantly higher than the values of the sediments of other two lakes. (HgT) in fish from Kodai lake ranged from 120-290 mg/kg. The result show that pollution of the lake has taken place due to mercury emission by the factory.

Concentration Range (mg/h) of Heavy Metals in the River Ganga

Location Rishi Kesh G Mukteshwar AS ND ND Cd ND-0.4 ND0.007 Cr ND-0.29 ND- 3.74 Cu ND- 0.09 ND- 0.06 Fe ND-34.8 ND- 30.5 Pb ND- 0.17 ND- 0.36 Mn ND- 1.06 ND- 1.60 Hg ND- 0.08 NDNDNi ND- 0.12 ND0.08 Zn ND- 0.35 ND-0.47

Kanpur

ND

ND-0.02

ND-1.55

ND-0.07

ND20.04
ND22.85

ND- 0.44

ND-0.90

ND0.009
ND- 0.04

ND- 0.11

ND- 1.26

Varanasi

ND

ND0.012

ND- 0.54

ND- 0.13

ND- 0.85

ND- 2.08

ND- 0.16

ND- 1.51

Patna

ND0.01
ND ND

ND -0.07
ND- 0.01

ND- 0.13

ND- 0.32

ND- 23.2

ND- 0.83

ND- 0.33

NDND
ND- 0.01

ND- 0.22

ND-1.45

Dakshinawar

ND- 1.30

ND- 0.14

ND- 33.8

ND-1.28

ND- 0.70

ND- 0.21

ND- 0.87

Source: ITRC Lucknow Study 2002

Food safety and Chemical Hazards

Chemicals are significant source of foodborne illness, although affects are often difficult to link with a particular food. Chemical contaminants in food include natural toxicants such as mycotoxins and marine toxins, environmental contaminants and naturally occurring chemicals in plants Chemical contamination of food can affect health after a single exposure or, more often, after long-term exposure, however, the health consequences of exposure to chemicals in food are often inadequately understood. Pesticides can cause different types of health effects, ranging from nausea, vomiting, sensitization and impaired immune function, to birth defects, neurotoxicity and cancer. Many chemical hazards in food are produced naturally by organisms in the environment, others are inherent components of food itself. Pollutants such as lead, cadmium and polychlorinated biphenyles (PCBs) in air, water and soil can also lead to high levels of toxic chemicals in food.

Addressing Food Contamination issues after Chemical incidents

Strategies:
Strengthening surveillance systems of food borne diseases
Identification Conformation Appropriate measures

Improving risk assessments Abandon contaminated food and Plan for alternative food supply Enhancing risk communication and advocacy Awareness creation of the community about safe food use Developing methods for assessing the safety of products of new technologies

Strengthening capacity building

Preventive food control measures

Information and advice to the population :
Remind people about the rules of safe food handling Advise people to avoid the types of food that are likely to be contaminated following an explosion in a chemical plant, or a nuclear accidents Food industries, slaughterhouses, markets and catering establishments should be inspected and steps taken to ensure that foods have been adversely affected are not marketed. Unaffected food should be protected against exposure to other sources of contamination and not kept under conditions in which bacterial growth may occur.

Assure Safe and hygienic warehouse management

Storage structures should have good roofs and ventilation. Spilled food should be swept up and disposed of promptly. Fuel, pesticides, chlorine and other chemicals stocks should never be stored in the same place as food.

Challenges addressing Food Contamination issues after Chemical incidents

The challenges for risk assessment of chemicals include consideration of susceptible populations such as children, pregnant women and elderly
Cumulative low-level exposure to multiple chemicals and effects on fetal natural development.
.

Work is needed to develop and validate methods to evaluate these potential risks adequately.

Thanks