Integrated disaster risk management strategy to prevent exposure to hazardous substances due to inundation triggered releases: a concept for Japan
The Nobi plain in Aichi Prefecture is exposed to multiple hazards, like inundation, typhoons and earthquakes. One serious threat is given by typhoon-triggered inundation as happened in the year 2000 during the Tookai-flood. This threat increased in the last decades because of land subsidence triggered by exhaustive ground water withdrawal in the mid of the 20 th century (Yamamoto, 1984). Several facilities handling hazardous substances were inundated during this event. It is unknown if hazardous substances were released. Similar cases suggest that this is highly probable. E.g., during the 2002-Elbe-flood in Germany large amounts of contaminants like heavy metals were flushed into the Elbe river. This resulted in chemical loadings, up to three magnitudes higher than the normal river load. The total delivered load of lead was 2500 times higher than the annual average load. The origin of those chemicals were determined to be inundated chemical facilities located in the Czech-Republic (Schiemeier, 2002). This example shows that not only the loss of property and life is of concern to disaster managers, also consequences by inundation-triggered events, like releases of hazardous substances have to be considered (Christou, 2000;
Central Europe braced for tide of pollution in flood aftermath
The flood waters of the River Elbe in central Europe are in retreat, but a new threat has emerged — dioxins, mercury and bacteria in the sludge carried by the waters. The Elbe has been receding since 16 August, and sludge clearing is now under way in the Czech Republic and eastern Germany. At the same time, scientists in the region are carefully monitoring the toxins and risk of disease left in the flood’s wake. One major potential source of contamination is Spolana, a chemical plant in Neratovice in the Czech Republic that was submerged until last week. Several disused buildings at the facility are contaminated with dioxins, used in the 1960s to produce a component of the defoliant Agent Orange. The plant, which now makes chlorine-based products such as polyvinyl chloride, also has stores of mercury. German environment minister Jürgen Trittin and his Czech counterpart Libor Ambrozek say that any toxins in the river would have been diluted below dangerous levels. Preliminary analysis of water from around the plant and at Dresden, 120 kilometres down-river, give no cause for alarm, they say. But Manuel Fernandez, a chemist with the environmental group Greenpeace, says that the buildings used in the 1960s were not properly protected against floods. He adds that Czech police attempted to stop his colleagues from gathering samples near the plant, and that the authorities may try to play news
Avian infectious bronchitis.
Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is caused by the gammacoronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The virus causes infections mainly in chickens and is a significant pathogen of commercial meat and egg type birds. IB is an acute, contagious disease characterised primarily by respiratory signs in growing chickens. In hens, decreased egg production and quality are often observed. Some strains of the virus are nephropathogenic and produce interstitial nephritis and mortality. The severity of IBV-induced respiratory disease is enhanced by the presence of other pathogens, including bacteria, leading to chronic complicated airsacculitis. Diagnosis of IB requires virus isolation or demonstration of viral nucleic acid from diseased flocks. Demonstration of a rising serum antibody response may also be useful. The widespread use of live and inactivated vaccines may complicate both the interpretation of virus isolation and serology findings. The occurrence of antigenic variant strains may overcome immunity induced by vaccination.