Public Health Response to Acute Chemical Incidents, Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES), 9 states, 1999-2008

Hazardous chemical incidents can have lasting impacts on communities and result in costly public health actions. The Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) was an active, state-based surveillance system developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to determine the public health consequences of hazardous substance releases. HSEES data were analyzed to evaluate public health actions taken in 9 states during acute and threatened hazardous substance releases from 1999 to 2008. Of the 57,975 acute chemical events reported to HSEES from 1999 to 2008, 4,281 (7.4%) resulted in an evacuation and 509 (0.9%) in a shelter in place order. Access to the affected area was restricted in 10,345 (25.9%) events. Activities to protect public health, such as shutting down water intake, providing alternative water supply, or issuing health advisory, environmental sampling, and health investigations were taken at 16,531 (28.5%) events. Oxy-organics, chlorine, and ammonia releases resulted in the highest percentage of evacuations and shelter in place orders. Chemical incidents can have a large impact upon public health. Efforts should be made by public authorities and industry to improve public awareness of chemical hazards in the community, and of how to respond in the event of an accident, e.g. ordering evacuations or sheltering in place.