groups. Increased knowledge leading to sus-
tained behavior change may result in decreased
releases and fewer injuries.
An ATSDR study of
railroad emergencies
ATSDR also used HSEES data during fiscal
year 2001 to analyze spills and releases of haz-
reported to the HSEES
ardous substances from train derailments and
found that official orders
other railroad emergency events. ATSDR found
that railroad emergency events that involved
to evacuate or to "take
hazardous substances increased during the
period analyzed, 19931998. ATSDR's analysis
shelter in place" occur
also found that these events were potentially
more frequently during
more harmful to the health of the general public
than other types of spills and releases, such as
railroad emergency events
those from fixed facilities. Railroad events were
than other types of
more likely to occur in residential areas and
hazardous waste spills and
releases.
This report for the period 19931997 included
information on 24,359 hazardous substance
events and 9,613 injured persons (110 of whom
died). Participating states used the 19931997
data analysis to identify and implement preven-
tion outreach activities that were geared to pre-
venting spills, releases, and resulting injuries.
Prevention activities have included developing
sites, news articles, and journal articles. These
activities were focused on counties and indus-
tries (for example, chlorine users, transporta-
tion, and agricultural industries) with the most
frequent spills, and the most frequently spilled
chemicals (that is, ammonia, chlorine, mercury,
pesticides, and illicit methamphetamine chemi-
cals). Other prevention activities have targeted
population groups that are frequently injured,
such as employees, first responders, and stu-
dents. Preliminary feedback suggests that these
activities increased knowledge in the target
Train derailment
52 chapter 3
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