In recent years, there has been a notable surge in environmental incidents, including wildfires and chemical releases. Responses to such events have primarily focused on addressing acute and immediate impacts. However, potential long-term health risks have been overlooked. Our proposed framework first advocates for the holistic identification of contaminants, prioritizing persistent organic contaminants determined through both knowledge-based and non-targeted and targeted analysis. We suggest integrating environmental monitoring and modeling approaches to assess the extent and composition of contamination caused by these chemicals. To facilitate swift assessments, we advocate the development of streamlined chemical analysis techniques and dedicated technologies for in situ monitoring of persistent organic chemicals. In addition, we provide an overview of both traditional and state-of-the-art approaches to risk assessment and introduce a three-tier risk assessment framework for evaluating the long-term health risks associated with environmental incidents. We emphasize the importance of in situ soil remediation and coordinated recovery efforts, including effective communication, evacuation, and cleaning plans for affected spaces, which are pivotal for facilitating recovery from environmental incidents. This comprehensive approach fortifies preparedness and recovery strategies, providing a robust framework for managing future environmental crises.

OBJECTIVE: The Seveso accident (1976) caused the contamination with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD) in an area north of Milan, Italy. We report the results of the update of mortality and cancer incidence in the exposed population through 2013.
METHODS: The study cohort includes subjects living in three contaminated zones with decreasing TCDD soil concentrations (zone A, B and R) and in a surrounding uncontaminated territory (reference). Poisson models stratified/adjusted for gender, age and period were fitted to calculate rate ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs.
RESULTS: In zone A in males, we found elevated mortality from circulatory diseases in the first decade after the accident (17 deaths, RR 2.00, 95% CI 1.24 to 3.23). In females, mortality from diabetes mellitus was increased, with a positive trend across zones. Incidence of soft tissue sarcoma was increased in males in zone R in the first decade (6 cases, RR 2.62, 95% CI 1.01 to 6.83). In females in zone B, there was an excess of non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma after 30 years (6 cases, RR 2.87, 95% CI 1.14 to 7.23). Multiple myeloma was increased in the second decade in females in zone B (4 cases, RR 5.09, 95% CI 1.82 to 14.2) and in males in zone R (11 cases, RR 2.15, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.26). In males in zone R, there was a leukaemia excess after 30 years (23 cases, RR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.93).
CONCLUSIONS: Although with different patterns across gender, zone and time, we confirmed previous results of increased cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, soft tissue sarcoma, and lymphatic and haematopoietic cancers.

UNASSIGNED: Acute and long-term health impacts from flooding related toxic chemical releases are a significant local health concern and can disproportionately impact communities with vulnerable populations; reliable release data are needed to quantify this hazard.
UNASSIGNED: In this paper, we analyze US Federal Emergency Management Agency designated floodplain data and US Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data to determine if geographically manipulated databases adhere to Benford\'s Law.
UNASSIGNED: We investigated multiple variants and discovered pollution releases adhere to Benford\'s Law and tests which thereby validates the self-reported toxic release dataset.
UNASSIGNED: We find that Benford\'s Law applies to self-reported toxic chemical release and disposal data, indicating a lack of widespread data errors or manipulation.

BACKGROUND: The literature review highlights that joint preparation and training of first aid responders is necessary to deal with a major chemical incident. Improved knowledge of exposure assessments makes it possible to estimate the risk and adjust immediate measures. The aim of this paper is to summarize recommendations for assessing exposure during chemical incidents that require emergency responses. Actions allowing the chemical contamination to be better anticipated and health protection to be optimized were analyzed.
METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted, and research questions were formulated using the PECO method. The PRISMA method was used to select the literature.
CONCLUSIONS: The selected papers (n=16) show that preparation for chemical incidents in terms of individual and collective protective equipment, and knowledge of the risk assessment process remain lacking. We propose training to master the steps of risk assessment. Our analysis also points out the importance of monitoring the state of the environment after a chemical incident, allowing adjusted measures to protect the health of the exposed population and vulnerable groups in particular. This monitoring must be accurate and dynamic to provide realistic recommendations during the intervention phase.
CONCLUSIONS: All first-aid responders and health workers knowing the risk assessment process should result in improvements: in the use of protective measures in time and space, the delimitation of exposure to contamination, and the characterization of the risk.

Chemical spills in surface waters pose a significant threat to public health and the environment. This study investigates the public health impacts associated with organic chemical spill emergencies and explores timely countermeasures deployable by drinking water facilities. Using a dynamic model of a typical multi-sourced New England drinking water treatment facility and its distribution network, this study assesses the impacts of various countermeasure deployment scenarios, including source switching, enhanced coagulation via poly‑aluminum chloride (PACl), addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC), and temporary system shutdown. This study reveals that the deployment of multiple countermeasures yields the most significant reduction in total public health impacts, regardless of the demand and supply availability. With the combination PAC deployed first with other countermeasures proving to be the most effective strategies, followed by the combination of facility shutdowns. By understanding the potential public health impacts and evaluating the effectiveness of countermeasures, authorities can develop proactive plans, secure additional funding, and enhance their capacity to mitigate the consequences of such events. These insights contribute to safeguarding public health and improving the resilience of drinking water systems in the face of the ever-growing threat of chemical spills.

A recent diesel spill (dated January 2019 ± 1 month) in a refilling station is investigated by the Radon deficit technique. The primary focus was on quantifying the LNAPL pore saturation as a function of duration of ageing, and on proposing a predictive model for on-site natural attenuation. A biennial monitoring of the local fluctuating shallow aquifer has involved the saturated zone nine times, and the vadose zone only once. Rn background generally measured in external and upstream wells is elaborated further due to the site characteristics, using drilling logs and phreatic oscillations. Notably, this study marks the first application of the Rn deficit method to produce a detailed Rn background mapping throughout the soil depth. Simultaneously, tests are performed on LNAPL surnatant samples to study diesel ageing. In particular, they are focused on temporal variations of LNAPL viscosity (from an initial 3.90 cP to 8.99 cP, measured at 25 °C, after 34 months), and Rn partition coefficient between the pollutant and water (from 47.7 to 80.2, measured at 25 °C, after 14 months). Rn diffusion is also measured in different fluids (0.092 cm2 s-1, 1.14 × 10-5 cm2 s-1, and 2.53 × 10-6 cm2 s-1 at 25 °C for air, water and LNAPL, respectively) directly. All parameters and equations utilized during this study are introduced, discussing their influence on Radon deficit technique from a theoretical point of view. Experimental findings are used to mitigate the effect of LNAPL ageing and of phreatic oscillations on determination of LNAPL saturation index (S.I.LNAPL). Finally, S.I.LNAPL dataset is discussed and elaborated to show the pollutant attenuation across subsurface over time, induced by natural processes primarily. The proposed predictive model for on-site natural attenuation suggests a half-removal time of one year and six months. The significance of such models lies in their capability to assess site-specific reactions to pollutants, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of remediation efforts over time. These experimental findings may offer a novel approach to application of Rn deficit technique and to environmental remediation of persistent organic compounds.

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Objectives. This study conducted a comparative analysis of two catastrophic pipeline accidents in China in order to identify some common mistakes and lessons learned to prevent similar accidents. Methods. The 24Model was used in this study, which provides a universal pathway for accident analysis from the individual level to the organizational level. Results. There were similarities between the two cases in the aspects of the occurrence, development, emergency and causation at different levels: both were caused by leaks of pipelines and evolved into multiple explosions during emergency response; both leaks were caused by the corrosion of pipelines in the confined space of a damp or salt-spray environment; both were classified as \'responsibility accidents\', and unsafe acts, such as the failure to identify hidden hazards of pipelines that were the direct cause of accidents, reflected the shortcomings of individual safety habitual behaviour in terms of knowledge, awareness, habits and psychology; weaknesses in the organizational management mainly concerned hazard identification, pipeline maintenance, emergency disposal, etc.; and there is not a good safety climate within the organization. Conclusions. Organizations should develop a closed-loop management system and strengthen the construction of safety culture, and the government should supervise the implementation of procedures.

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BACKGROUND: This article summarizes our research study on the scenario of an accidental chlorine gas release during transportation and preparing emergency response plan to mitigate the subsequent hazards in urban areas.
METHODS: To conduct the research study, the event tree analysis (ETA), a series of brain storming sessions, and a modeling of consequences of an accident using the Phylogenetic Analysis with Space/Time models (PHAST) software were employed.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the result of the event tree, 32 initial occurring paths and 20 eventual occurring paths are identified as the outcome. The evacuation time is about 41 seconds, which is very short, and the odds of casualties are estimated at 99 percent within a radius of 140-192 m from the release site, 50 percent within a radius of 202-599 m, and 1 percent within a radius of 758 m.
CONCLUSIONS: Along with the use of consequence modeling, the development of the ETA can be effective in emergency preparedness. In the case of a chlorine gas release, it would not be possible to effectively control the source of release. Furthermore, the result indicates that in a major city like Tehran, the application and transport of chlorine gas can be a serious challenge.