Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report - Issue 13

Synopsis

A number of significant incidents are presented in this issue. The story of a quarry used for illegal dumping of tyres highlights the value of good environmental management in preventing a potentially very difficult chemical incident; issues related to tyre fires have been reported in a previous Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report.

Odours are included in this issue: they are difficult to manage particularly when the source is difficult to identify, as the two incidents reported here highlight; odours across the South East of England and Wales, and the investigation of an odour incident in a residential care home.

A number of articles related to emergency preparedness are included. Of note are two papers on carbon monoxide, one on public health surveillance and the other on the carbon monoxide toolkit.

In environmental science the focus is waste with a report on fly tipping, while another report discusses the assessment of different waste management strategies, using the North London Waste Authority as a case study.

This issue has a section on natural disasters and climate change. The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and its Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015): Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters is summarised. The volcanic eruption in Montserrat in 1995 is described, with a consideration of the public health issues generated by exposure to ash and from living close to the site of the volcano.

Last reviewed: 19 August 2010