Environmental Health, Public Safety, and Social Impacts Associated with Transportation Accidents Involving Hazardous Substances. UTCA Theme: Management and Safety of Transportation Systems.

摘要

Accidents involving chemicals or radioactive materials represent a significant threat to the environment, public health and safety, and community well-being. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, no community is immune from the threat posed by environmental accidents and contamination. Even communities far removed from industrial production or storage facilities can still be at risk from accidents associated with the transport of hazardous materials. While a variety of studies have been conducted on aspects of major transportation accidents, few have attempted to examine both environmental and community aspects of the problem. In contrast, this report takes an integrated approach to hazardous transportation accidents by considering environmental, safety, economic, and psychosocial issues. The purpose of the project is to (1) quantify transportation-related accidents involving hazardous materials in the state, and (2) identify key longer-term environmental health, public safety, and social impacts that are often overlooked after major transportation-related hazardous materials accidents.