Category:Chemical releases

Once a chemical release has occurred, the type and degree of damage will depend on its physicochemical and toxicological nature. The damage may range from significant to insignificant, depending partly on the circumstances of the release and partly on the actions taken in response. Most options are likely to involve costs to the response organization for which at present, compensation may not be fully available. Thus, differing releases will have differing effects and call for differing responses.

The selection of the response method is highly dependent on the nature of the spill, the local circumstances, weather conditions, availability of and accessibility to equipment, and the properties of the pollutant.

In addition to the criteria mentioned, political considerations can play a prominent part in decision-making, it should always be recalled that politics is more a matter of belief than of knowledge. Thus, while it is sometimes difficult to assess which response technique is most suitable for the incident concerned, we know that the prime consideration is always the safety of people involved in the response; and that the subordinate consideration is to remove as much pollutant as possible without causing any further damage to the marine environment. Thus, while it is important to know the physical and chemical properties of individual chemicals and their possible impacts on the environment we also know that a general contingency plan for all of them is impossible.

Thus, the high probability of an accidental spill involving chemicals requires general contingency plans to be supplemented with decision-making systems applicable to individual chemicals.