actually made the news

[Michael Stabin <stabin@npd.ufpe.br>]

I was surprised that the following actually made the news today (Source:
HeadlineNewsMail@CNN.COM):

Chemical leak at pharmaceutical plant prompts evacuations

A broken pipeline sent a yellowish cloud of toxic chemicals into the air
above a pharmaceutical plant on Sunday and spurred the evacuation of two
nearby trailer parks. Two workers were injured when a pipeline broke at the
Catalytica Pharmaceuticals Inc. plant, releasing bromine, a chemical that
can cause severe injury or death when inhaled, ingested or after coming into
skin contact.

- About 75 people evacuated -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I once probed some federal government sources for statistics on how many
times per year this happens, how many people are evacuated, how many people
(civilians, emergency personnel, etc.) are injured or killed.  The idea of
course is perspective on the few LLW shipment spills that occur and make
front page news, with no harm to anyone, outside of those due to the
accident itself.  Anyone out there have any such statistics??



Michael Stabin
Departamento de Energia Nuclear/UFPE
Av. Prof. Luiz Freire, 1000 - Cidade Universitaria
CEP 50740 - 540
Recife - PE
Brazil
Phone 55-81-271-8251 or 8252 or 8253
Fax  55-81-271-8250
E-mail stabin@npd.ufpe.br



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