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Chemical
Emergencies |
Radiological
Emergencies |
Dam failures |
Modern technologies offer people many commodities but imply additional risk from materials or technologies used, such as radioactive or toxic substances, high voltage or pressure. The hazardous substances are present in communities around the world, mainly in industrial facilities and during its transportation via highways, rail and waterways. Accidents, including fires, explosions and leakages resulting in the release of these substances, can have adverse effects on human health, property and the environment. Human exposure to hazardous substances can cause injury or even death to a large number of people. Unfortunately, Bhopal chemical accident in 1984 http://www.bhopal.com (approximately 3,800 people die and several thousand other individuals experience permanent and partial disabilities) and Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 http://www.tesec-int.org/Chernobyl.htm (more than 3 million people have been affected) have demonstrated a high risk attributed to hazardous materials (HAZMAT), which have been released into environment.
Chemical, radiological (nuclear) accidents or dam failure are result of human activity and it is man-made or technological disaster. There are other types of man-made disaster, related to failure of public buildings or any interruption or loss of a utility service (power source, life support system, information system or equipment needed to keep the business in operation).
Chemical, radiological disasters or dam failure could affect millions of people on distance many kilometres, as have been demonstrated by Bhopal and Toulouse chemical accidents, Chernobyl or Fukushima nuclear accidents, that is why they are main subjects of our risk review.
The knowledge about nature of chemical or radiological disasters will help you save your life.