Data from states that participate in the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system maintained by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will be analyzed to describe the association between mercury releases and adverse public health consequences. HSEES events are defined as sudden, uncontrolled, or illegal releases of at least one hazardous substance that had to be removed, cleaned up, or neutralized according to federal, state, or local law. A substance is considered hazardous if it might reasonably be expected to cause adverse human health outcomes. Threatened releases are also included in HSEES if (1) the amount threatened to be released would have required removal, cleanup, or neutralization under federal, state, or local law, and (2) the threat led to an action to protect the public health (e.g., rerouting traffic, closing a road, or ordering an evacuation). Events involving only petroleum products are excluded from the HSEES system. Data from 1993–1999, the most recent time period for which complete data are available, will be included in the analyses. Additionally, the analyses will be restricted to events in which mercury was the only chemical released. Descriptive statistics will be presented for the number of mercury events per year, the types of industries involved in the releases, the factors contributing to the releases, the categories of victims, types of injuries, injury outcomes, types of personal protective equipment (PPE) worn, decontaminations, and evacuations.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to: 1. Recognize the industries most likely to be involved in mercury releases, as well as the factors, categories of victims, and types of injuries associated with mercury releases. 2. Identify strategies to reduce the incidence of mercury releases and the subsequent morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Hazardous Waste, Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.