The changing nature of acute chemical hazards: A historical perspective

Abstract

Emergency situations may develop from a variety of circumstances when chemicals or chemically-related substances or materials are improperly used or inadequately controlled. The various processes or circumstances, which may result in an emergency endangering significant numbers of people and requiring response by emergency control personnel or systems, are placed in a historical perspective. Acute chemical emergencies may and do occur in several modes: fire, explosions, uncontrolled release of materials, uncontrolled reactions, and time-bombs of toxic or explosive materials from improper disposal. These modes are used to illustrate the difficulty of generalizing about the control of chemicals and to encourage wider appreciation of the changing nature of chemical emergencies. In all cases, it is the lack of adequate control which precipitated a crisis, not the chemical itself.