ABSTRACT
Major accident hazards are a special case. A ‘major hazard’ is defined as an imprecise term for a large-scale chemical hazard, especially one which may be released through an acute event (Jones, 1992). Thus, although major hazards include hazards from point sources, such as industrial plant and natural hazards such as emissions from volcano and lakes, they also include hazards from ‘disseminated’ sources such as those associated with food poisoning. Some examples of disasters, the manifestations of major accidents, are given in Table 10.1 and further examples are given in Illing (1999b). The toxicology associated with ‘point source’ major hazards is concerned with prediction and mitigation as well as the more conventional forms of prevention. It is aimed at providing ill-health information for predicting areas around a possible source (usually an industrial plant) likely to be affected by the effects of a single large dose of a chemical. It also includes the identification of potential methods of treatment in the event of an accident.
