Atmospheric release of organic solvents due to hazardous events in the paints and varnishes industry

Abstract

Technogenic risk is the result of creation and development of hazards that originate from accidents in the technosphere. It involves emissions of hazardous industrial substances into the work and natural environments, fires, radioactive contamination, and contamination by toxic substances during their transport and storage. The qualitative and quantitative technogenic risk assessment has to be performed during the use, handling, transport, and storage of hazardous substances if it is decided that specific environmental elements at a specific location are likely to become exposed to hazardous substances, leading to environmental degradation. This paper discusses vulnerability zones - specifically, the high lethality zone and the irreversible effects zone - that are formed due to hazardous events or accidents in the paints and varnishes industry. Accidents are discussed in terms of exposure to solvents classified as hazardous to ecosystem components, the biosphere, anthroposphere, and the human population during their atmospheric dispersion. The vulnerability zones are designated using the REHRA (Rapid Environmental and Health Risk Assessment) methodology and their spatial arrangement is used to perform the risk assessment for the purpose of notifying authorized institutions and the public about a potentially increased risk at the hazard location and/or the immediate vicinity.