THE PUBLIC-HEALTH PHYSICIANS ROLE IN CHEMICAL INCIDENTS

Chemical incidents such as the methylisocyanate release at Bhopal and the aluminium sulphate incident in Lowermoor, Cornwall, are uncommon. However, five chemical incidents occurred in Somerset in 12 months bet ween 1990 and 1991, and District Health Authorities are required to ha ve plans to deal with such events. A survey of the plans held by the C onsultants in Communicable Disease Control in South Western and Wessex Regional Health Authorities is discussed and the roles of public heal th physicians and emergency organizations are outlined.