Authors: Barbora Vlková, Karel Lehmert Affiliation: Dept. of Criminology & Forensic Studies, University of Finance and Administration, Prague, Czech Republic Keywords: Spolana Neratovice, chlorine, chemical danger, HAZMAT
Introduction
This work focuses on a specific case of chlorine leak in 2000, located in the town of Neratovice. Chlorine is a yellow gas that damages the respiratory tract. At high concentrations it is lethal, and it was used as a chemical warfare agent during the First World War. People will feel its release as burning eyes and difficulty breathing. The authorities even encouraged people in threatened communities not to go out and boarded up windows and doors. A helicopter was prepared in reserve for the eventual evacuation of local residents.
Although this accident was not a large-scale disaster, the event represents a typical example of a local chemical accident with a real impact on nearby residents. The analysis of this incident helps to better understand the mechanism behind such events, their course, and the effectiveness of emergency response services.
Methodology
This paper is based mainly on the analysis of available secondary sources, especially media reports and professional texts describing the chlorine leak at the Spolana Neratovice chemical plant. The sources were chosen based on their relevance and reliability. The collected information was compared and evaluated to describe the course of the incident, including its causes and consequences. The analysis was also supported by general knowledge about the properties of chlorine and its effects on human health and the environment.
Results
Up to 180 kilograms of dangerous substances entered the air, and the residents of Neratovice and surrounding villages were warned by warning sirens. The accident at the Spolana Neratovice chemical plant was handled by the firefighters, also supported by units from nearby town Mělník. During the intervention, a total of 12 firefighters were exposed to chlorine, and 10 of them had to be hospitalized due to respiratory problems or chemical burns to the skin. The release of chlorine was fully stopped after nine hours of emergency response.
The direct cause of the accident was identified as a cracked weld on a pipeline, which led to the uncontrolled leakage of the hazardous substance into the surrounding environment. As for the surrounding environment, the report of Mělník botanists confirmed that the gas damaged plants in the vicinity of the plant.
Discussion
The repeated occurrence of accidents at the Spolana Neratovice chemical plant suggests that it is worth critically evaluating the safety level of the operation and the effectiveness of preventive measures. In the past, for example in June 1991 about 50 kilograms of chlorine leaked and affected a construction site with more than 200 workers. In April 1993, there was an explosion and fire of vinyl chloride monomer, which caused several injuries. Overall, while the incidents were not always large-scale disasters, their repetition creates an image of a higher level of risk than would be expected in the chemical industry.
References
- iDNES, Fidler and Ježek (2000). Chlorine leaked from Spolana due to a technical fault. https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/chlor-ze-spolany-unikl-kvuli-technicke-zavade.A000721104357domaci_has
- Radio Prague International (2000). Poisonous chlorine escaped from Spolana in Neratovice. https://cesky.radio.cz/jedovaty-chlor-unikl-z-neratovicke-spolany-8039668
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