A company can replace flammable solvents with safer water-based materials. Unavoidably hazardous industries can widen community buffer zones, such as by moving ammonia tanks away from populated areas. An EPA-funded study says putting information on the Internet increases risks. No, this is highly inaccurate. Further, the report did not explain why use of the Internet would be necessary to target an industrial facility, nor did it identify any examples of people using the Internet to do so.
Chemical accidents are infrequent.
No, every fifteen minutes in the U.S., on average, a chemical fire, spill, or explosion is reported through the EPA's Emergency Response Notification System, or 38,305 incidents in 1997. Of these incidents, more than 1,000 caused death or injury. Further, current trends in infrastructure disinvestment and corporate downsizing are eroding safety.