Acute hazardous substance releases resulting in adverse health consequences in children: Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance system, 1996-2003.* Sudden releases of hazardous chemicals are commonly associated with manufacturing and transportation, and adversely affect employees. * But children are sometimes injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. when such disasters strike. * Because of their small size and ongoing organ development, children may be more susceptible than adults. * With this consideration in mind, the authors examined Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES HSEES Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance ) system data from 1996-2003. * They found that chemical releases resulting in injury to children occurred mostly in schools, homes, and recreational areas. * School-related events were associated with the accidental release of acids and the release of pepper spray by pranksters. * Two mercury releases that caused acute childhood injury also occurred in schools. * Five mercury releases occurred in private households. * A frequent cause of childhood injury in the home was pesticides. * Ammonia ammonia, chemical compound, NH3, colorless gas that is about one half as dense as air at ordinary temperatures and pressures. It has a characteristic pungent, penetrating odor. releases that resulted in a child being injured were associated with agriculture industries. * A few ammonia-related events linked to farms and one home event involved the illicit production of methamphetamine methamphetamine (mĕth'ămfĕt`əmēn): see amphetamine; methedrine. . * Chlorine was one of the top chemicals harmful to children, particularly at public swimming pools. * The greatest number of events and the greatest number of children injured occurred at schools. * Mismanagement mis·man·age tr.v. mis·man·aged, mis·man·ag·ing, mis·man·ag·es To manage badly or carelessly. mis·man  age·ment n. and improper storage of chemicals pose both
immediate and long-term threats to students, teachers, and school
employees.
* Pharmaceutical drug manufacturing was associated with the greatest number of victims per event: 397 victims in three events. * The three events occurred at one facility. * Gasket leaks and pressure imbalances caused the release of pyridine pyridine (pĭr`ĭdēn) or azine (ăz`ēn), C5H5N, colorless, flammable, toxic liquid with a putrid odor. It melts at −42°C; and boils at 115.5°C;. and ammonia into the air. * The resulting plumes drifted downwind down·wind adv. In the direction in which the wind blows. down wind to a nearby school, causing
harm to 100 or more children.
* Accidental releases like these should serve as a warning about the siting of schools in proximity to such risks. * Chemical accidents cannot be prevented entirely. * But efforts can be made to provide safer environments for children. * Surveillance of acute hazardous chemical releases can help provide an understanding of the contributing causes. * The authors also urge wide dissemination dissemination Medtalk The spread of a pernicious process–eg, CA, acute infection Oncology Metastasis, see there of safety recommendations and education programs to protect children from needless environmental dangers. |
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