Epidemiological Studies of Chemical Accidents Using EPA's 5-Year Accident History Database

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have made major contributions to the understanding and prevention of human disease. They are particularly valuable in regard to discovering the risk factors associated with low probability-high consequence diseases with a complex etiology. In many cases, once such factors are uncovered, preventive measures can be taken to reduce their contribution to the risk that the disease will manifest itself. Major accidental releases of chemicals are also low probability-high consequence events and also often have a complex etiology. However, there has not been a significant application of epidemiological techniques in regard to major accidental chemical releases. In large part this is because a suitable database on the incidence of such events has not existed, a situation which will be remedied when the EPA 5-year Accident History database becomes available. The paper will discuss how epidemiological studies using this database can be used to uncover predictors (risk factors) and underlying causes of major accidental chemical releases.Investigation of a possible parallel between the influence of human socio-economic status on disease and organizational sociotechnical status on accidental chemical releases will also be discussed.