With the increasing numbers of new chemicals
entering the global market each year—between
200 and 1000 new chemicals with production
capacities in excess of one tonne per
annum1—concern is growing about potential
population health effects, particularly from
accidental releases of chemicals such as occurred
at Lowermoor,2 Bhopal3 and Seveso.4
Public concern itself may result in perceived
health effects, as in the Worcester water
incident,5 but a recent study of the grounding
of the Sea Empress oil tanker on the Pembrokeshire
coast reported real physical health
effects in the general population after controlling
for anxiety.6 Despite these concerns the
frequency, type and consequences of incidents
in the United Kingdom has not been documented
systematically. We report here the
results of a population-based study that
provided a model for an on-going chemical
incident surveillance scheme for the UK.