CHEMICAL SAFETY Terms Links

In most cases, limited information is available regarding the toxic effects of chemicals. Empirical guidelines are then used in an attempt to protect most of the aquatic ecosystem s biota. The regulation of chemicals, for instance, generally uses safety factors from 10 to 1000 depending on the number of species tested. Mesocosm studies or comparisons with real field situations are accepted with lower safety factors on a case by case basis, since these studies reduce the uncertainty linked to the relevance of laboratory models in terms of site-specific data. 

These accidents, and many less devastating incidents that continue to occur today, were linked by an incomplete analysis of human factors. The human side of safety was ignored with high costs. Chemical manufacturers have yet to get over the impact of Bhopal, which killed 3,800 and injured over 200,000. Litigation is still in process. It required 4.5 years and 970 million to clean up after the Three Mile Island nuclear plant accident. That cost is hundreds of millions more than the cost to build the plant. Long-term environmental and health impacts of Chernobyl continue to haunt Russia and her neighbors. 

---