Recorded presentation

Wanda Lizak Welles, PhD, Rebecca E Wilburn, MPH, and Jenny K. Ehrlich, MPH. Bureau of Toxic Substance Assessment, New York State Department of Health, Flanigan Square, Room 330, 547 River Street, Troy, NY 12180, 518-402-7810, wlw02@health.state.ny.us

Chemical releases that can potentially harm employees, responders, and the general public occur daily. Since 1993, the New York State Department of Health, funded by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, has collected data about non-petroleum hazardous substance releases through the ongoing Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system. This presentation will provide an understanding of the type and characteristics of events in the New York HSEES system through summarized data and case studies. The 6,428 non-petroleum events involved more than 8,000 hazardous substances and 12% of the events resulted in reported injuries to 3,089 people. Statistical analysis, conducted annually on data collected by New York HSEES, was used to identify patterns in events, changes in trends and emerging problems. The data driven knowledge was used to develop targeted education and outreach activities. Data presented will include event location characteristics; causes/contributing factors; the ten chemicals most frequently associated with events; the ten chemicals most frequently associated with injuries; injured populations including responders, employees, the general public and students; the types of injuries; and medical outcomes. Discussion will focus on specific interventions developed to provide outreach and education on topics including mercury, clandestine drug labs (primarily methamphetamine) and carbon monoxide.

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