Control and Mitigation Systems for Accidental Releases of Toxic Chemicals

摘要

The paper discusses control and mitigation systems for accidental releases of toxic chemicals. A review of the control/mitigation system data base developed during an EPA study reveals that the major control measure employed by industry for accidental releases is routine process inspections. For control devices, flares and scrubbers were found to be the control systems of choice for handling such releases. The types of accidental release control systems appear to be chemical-specific, although insufficient data were available per chemical to establish trends for different chemicals. The mitigation systems data base revealed a variety of techniques (e.g., water misting, dikes, foam covers) in industry for limiting the spread of an accidental release. The limited data base did not allow any clear trends to be established for mitigation systems by type of chemical. The control/mitigation system data base also pointed out that companies viewed improved inspections and equipment testing as the best way to prevent accidental releases.