Chemical spills put 27,000 at risk in 2005

News | HSW
01.04.2007

The Buncefield oil depot disaster was just one of 1040 accidents in which chemical spills, leaks and explosions affected up to 27 000 people during 2005. A fifth of the incidents were industrial but nearly as many occurred in domestic premises, according to the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) most extensive ever survey of chemical accidents in England and Wales.

The HPA report summarises the findings from its ongoing chemical incident surveillance programme, which covers incidents involving chemicals ranging from acids and asbestos to carbon monoxide and pesticides. Of the 1040 incidents in 2005 (an increase of one-third over 2004), 284 exposed between one and 10 people, while 27 incidents exposed 11 to 25 people. Nearly a quarter of the incidents involved fires, with 15% and 12% involving chemical releases and leaks respectively.

Overall, 600 to 3400 people suffered symptoms from contamination, including poisoning and burns. Eight people died in five of the incidents, although exposure to chemicals only directly caused two of the deaths. Despite the low level of fatalities, the HPA believes "the potential for exposure is real and substantial". Some 14% of all incidents caused people to be evacuated and an estimated 1.3 million people, including 340 000 children, lived within 1km of 152 uncontained incidents in the second half of 2005.

Accidents happened most frequently during April and May, and most commonly in London (25%) and the South East (16%). They ranged from the massive Buncefield blast to minor domestic spills of mercury from thermometers. In the industrial sector, there was a large increase in the proportion of incidents involving acids (from 20% in 2004 to 40% in 2005). Industries reporting acid spills included waste recycling, manufacturing, textiles, forging and chemical processing.

Dr Patrick Saunders, lead editor of the report, said the latest findings will help improve the HPA's "preparedness and response" to emerging chemical and environmental threats. The agency is also working on further improving its reporting and recording mechanisms.