Transcript Chemical/Industrial Disaster Management: US Models

Surveillance of Emergency
Events
U.S. Experience
CIDM Conference, N. Delhi, India
February 12, 2009
Dr. Rubina Imtiaz
Country Representative
US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Overview
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Public health consequences of acute HS releases
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Chernobyl, Ukraine;
Bhopal, India;
Seveso, Italy;
Graniteville, South Carolina
No cohesive national tracking system in US
Objectives:
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Improve emergency response
Improve preparedness planning & prevention-based
interventions, to
Reduce # of releases and their PH impact
HSEES
Hazardous Substances Emergency
Events Surveillance
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ATSDR initiated in 1993
Earlier databases missed information
Goals:
to define distribution & characteristics of acute
releases;
 effects on humans; and
 prevention strategies.
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HSEES: Design
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Active surveillance in 15 states
Type of substance, # & type of injuries, #
of victims
Computerized, web-based data
Full participation by states
Info available to industry, responders and
public to help prevent future events
Results for 1993 - 2005
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Total events= 69,991 (95% from FFs)
Substances released = 105,832
# of victims = 25,600; deaths = 452
Commonest victims are employees
Commonest substances: inorganic subs., VOCs,
and mixtures
Respiratory irritation, headaches, dizziness and
CNS symptoms
Data-based Interventions
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Increase general awareness
Outreach on high-risk substances
(Chlorine, ammonia, cleaning products,
NaOH, Hg, CO)
Targeted outreach (first responders, highrisk counties and industrial corridors, and
children)
Continuing Challenges
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Gaps/overlaps between various agencies data
Identify core data present/needed by all
Compatibility and merger of datasets
Rapid interagency communication/sharing
More comprehensive approach
Responsiveness to national security needs
Flexibility to partner with multiple Federal, State
and local agencies (needs, shared resources)
National Chemical Incidents
Surveillance and Prevention Program
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Enhance and unify existing databases into
one core data repository (NRC, CSHIB,
DOT, PCCs, and CPSC).
Supplement with news media searches,
additional data from pilot state HD sites
(latter also used for validation)
Additional resources
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HS/HSEES
THANK YOU