After the chemical company lobbied Congress in 1999 to restrict public release of these accident scenarios, the information has not been readily available until today. The company data shows that more than a million people are at risk from only one worst-case scenario chemical accident.
Chemical accidents are under reported and no federal agency keeps a complete record.
Between 1987 and 1994, more than 3,000 chemicals accidents were reported in the U.S. of more than 10,000 pounds of hazardous material. More people that live and work as far as 25 miles from dozens of chemical plants such as Dow, Georgia Gulf, Vulcan and Dupont are at risk of accidents. The groups released data on 50 danger zones that blanket a corridor 25 miles wide from Baton Rouge to New Orleans and the Lake Charles area in southwest Louisiana. The same company reports include worst case scenarios and alternative scenarios, including toxic chemical releases, fires and explosions. The Dow plant in Plaquemine reported a worst case accident involving the release of hydrogen chloride that could put 370,000 people at risk.