			Home About us Contact

Toxic Releases (toxic + release)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Humanities and Social Sciences	60%

Selected Abstracts

Toxic gas release caused by the thermal decomposition of a bulk powder blend containing sodium dichloroisocyanurate

PROCESS SAFETY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2003
Andrew R. Carpenter P.E.
A thermal runaway reaction occurred during the mixing of a batch of a bulk powder that resulted in the production and release of toxic gases. The mixture consisted of an oxidizer (sodium dichloroisocyanurate), some organic compounds, and inert compounds. This toxic release led to the evacuation of the building and resulted in extensive damage to the facility. This was only the fourth time an 1,100-pound batch of this material had been mixed in this equipment. Prior to this production run, the material had been prepared in small batches of 2 to 50 kilograms. Accelerated Rate Calorimetry (ARC) testing had been performed prior to the scale-up to production batches. This paper looks into the root causes of this particular accident and demonstrates how proper analysis of the testing data and other warning signs observed during the bench testing could have revealed the likelihood of this accident. Further, this paper will consider how simple design changes to the manufacturing process resulted in an inherently safer design. [source]

Major hazards analysis: An improved method for process hazard analysis

PROCESS SAFETY PROGRESS, Issue 1 2003
Paul Baybutt
Process hazard analyses (PHAs) usually focus on major hazards,fires, explosions, and toxic releases. Traditional PHA methods, such as the Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) study and What-If analysis, often include scenarios for other hazard types, such as operability problems. Sometimes, this may be desired, but not always. There is a need for a PHA technique that directly and exclusively addresses major process hazards. Such hazards are realized when process containment is lost. Therefore, the method proposed here uses a categorization scheme to guide brainstorming of initiating events that can result in fires, explosions, or toxic releases. It provides a more efficient and, likely, more complete, identification of major hazard scenarios than current PHA methods. [source]

What do we really know?

REGULATION & GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2008
The effect of reporting thresholds on inferences using environmental right-to-know data
Abstract Environmental right-to-know regulations require regulated entities to publicly disclose measures of environmental performance but exempt entities from these disclosure requirements if they manufacture, process, or use a chemical below some threshold level. Environmental right-to-know data are widely used to assess environmental performance by academics, regulators, non-profit organizations, and the public. This paper uses data from Massachusetts to estimate the effect of reporting thresholds in environmental right-to-know programs on the validity of inferences using data from these programs. The analysis indicates that errors in inference introduced by reporting thresholds may be significant. Up to 40% of the observed decline in reported toxic releases in Massachusetts may be attributed to non-reporting due to the reporting thresholds. In addition, quartile rankings of facilities may be in error up to 45% of the time when behavior around the reporting thresholds is not taken into account. [source]

Measuring corporate environmental performance: the trade-offs of sustainability ratings

BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 4 2010
Magali Delmas
Abstract Socially responsible investing (SRI) represents an investment process that reflects environmental and social preferences. The financial industry is in a unique position to move corporations towards corporate sustainability. However, there is often little transparency regarding the metrics used to evaluate corporate social and environmental performance and the trade-offs involved in the evaluation. In this paper we discuss the various trade-offs of sustainability screening methodologies. We show that the rating of companies varies significantly according to whether the screening is based on toxic releases and regulatory compliance or on the quality of environmental policy and disclosure. We base our analysis on the evaluation of the performance of 15 firms in the chemical sector. The analysis indicates that firms that have the most advanced reporting and environmental management practices tend also to have higher levels of toxic releases and lower environmental compliance. We provide methodological recommendations to help stakeholders evaluate corporate environmental performance. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source]

Environmental management codes and continuous environmental improvements: insights from the chemical industry

BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 4 2001
Barry D. Solomon
The chemical industry has the highest quantity of toxic releases and hazardous waste generation in the US. We present survey results that examined compliance with seven major environmental statutes at small and medium-sized chemical facilities. This survey was designed to complement the findings of the US Environmental Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers Association ,Root Cause' survey, which attempted to determine reasons for environmental noncompliance at large chemical facilities. Results of our study indicated that 30% of the respondents did not have an Environmental Management System in place, including Responsible Care, even though Responsible Care is required for active membership in their trade association. Also, survey respondents looked beyond their own facility for meeting their compliance assistance needs. Statistical analysis of the results showed that for six of seven environmental laws examined, company size had a statistically significant correlation with awareness of compliance requirements. Only in the case of one major environmental statute was the hypothesized relationship not statistically significant. The results point to the need for trade associations, state and federal government and management to devote additional resources to improving environmental compliance for smaller chemical companies. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [source]